Gale force winds spark Christmas travel chaos: Plane's nose gear collapses in 'hard landing' and closes runways while more than 100 Heathrow flights are cancelled - and 66million motorists hit the road
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Holidaymakers are continuing to face travel chaos in the run up to Christmas as gale force winds led one plane's nose gear to collapse during a 'hard landing’ and 100 flights were axed amid severe weather warnings. Millions of travellers have faced disruption during the busiest weekend of the year, as the weather continues to wreak havoc on the roads, ferries and rail services.
![[Warnings have been put in place for today with much of the UK covered in a yellow alert signifying 'a prolonged period of strong winds']](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/22/11/93398807-14218675-image-a-1_1734866198074.jpg)
Around 100 flights were cancelled at Heathrow Airport yesterday after the Met Office covered the UK in a yellow alert signifying 'a prolonged period of strong winds'. Belfast City Airport's also had to close their runway this afternoon after an Aer Lingus plane suffered an emergency incident while landing during strong winds.
![[Hundreds of passengers are facing Christmas travel chaos as 90 flights from Heathrow Airport are cancelled and 200 more delayed amid weather warnings for strong wind]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/21/14/93382227-14216745-image-a-12_1734793053129.jpg)
The plane, which was being repositioned to the airport, saw its nose wheel collapse during the landing, as pictures showed its nose resting on the runway tarmac. There were four crew members on board the aircraft at the time and no passengers. A spokesperson for Emerald Airlines said: 'An Emerald Airlines positioning flight, EA701P, with no passengers on board, flying from Edinburgh to Belfast City Airport experienced a hard landing upon arriving into Belfast City Airport due to adverse weather conditions.'.
![[A Heathrow spokesperson said 'a small number of flights' have been cancelled on Saturday due to 'strong winds and airspace restrictions']](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/21/15/93382231-14216745-image-a-18_1734793411951.jpg)
London Heathrow made the decision to call off the flights while dozens of ferry routes in Scotland and Ireland are also no longer operating due to severe 80mph winds. Belfast City Airport's also had to close their runway this afternoon after an Aer Lingus plane suffered an emergency incident while landing during strong winds.
![[Currently, 33 flights from the west London airport have been axed today, and another 58 tomorrow.]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/21/15/93382229-14216745-image-a-20_1734793870179.jpg)
