A dramatic video has captured the harrowing moment an aircraft struggled to land in severe winds at Cristiano Ronaldo Madeira International Airport in Portugal. The footage shows a Marabu Airlines A320 lurching side to side like a paper plane before bouncing on the tarmac during its attempt to land.
According to The Sun, at least 49 flights were canceled on Tuesday due to dangerous weather conditions affecting Madeira, a popular tourist destination long known for its treacherous landings. The island’s airport is regularly ranked among the most dangerous in the world due to sudden wind gusts and a short runway perched between cliffs and the ocean.
The chaotic weather left hundreds of travelers stranded, with many venting their frustration online. Some passengers said they were left without food, accommodation, or flight updates. “I’m currently stuck at Madeira Airport with no hotel, no food, and no idea when I can fly back to London,” one British Airways passenger wrote. “Is this really what you call customer service?”
Even local newspapers described the day as a “nightmare” for passengers. Some planes were forced to divert to mainland airports as conditions worsened.
Online reactions to the video poured in, with many viewers visibly shaken. “This is insane. I got a knot in my neck just watching it,” one user posted. Another recalled their own terrifying experience: “Landing in Madeira was one of the scariest moments of my life. That plane just wouldn’t stop moving.”
The Sun also cited claims from a Portuguese traveler who said 400 to 500 people ended up sleeping at the airport due to the flight chaos.
