Storm Pia: Video shows Aer Lingus plane battling 50mph crosswinds in Birmingham landing

Passengers had a white-knuckle ride at Birmingham Airport when their plane was buffeted by 50mph crosswinds as it tried to land.

Video shows the pilot fighting valiantly but forced to abandon the landing and have another go.

The twin-propeller Aer Lingus plane was one of several smaller aircraft that struggled amid the turbulent conditions of Storm Pia on Thursday.

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The flight had been diverted from Leeds Bradford Airport but conditions were equally tricky further south.

Approaching the runway, it appeared the pilot was winning the fight – but less than 100ft from the tarmac they pulled up and hit the power again for a ‘go-around’.

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The second time looked equally tricky, with the plane struggling to stay level at times.

But happily for those on board, the ATR 72-600 – which seats up to 78 passengers – managed to touch down safely.

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Much of the UK has been hit by strong winds from Storm Pia – with hurricane-force gusts of 115mph at the summit of the Cairngorms in Scotland and 81mph in Northumberland.

There’s also major rail disruption in London, and about 40,000 households have been affected by electricity outages in the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire.