Strong winds to cause transport chaos for millions ahead of Christmas
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Strong winds have forced a runway to close at Belfast City Airport after a flight made a hard landing during one of the busiest Christmas travel days. The Aer Lingus regional flight EA701P operated by Emerald Airlines from Edinburgh to Belfast suffered a hard landing at the city’s airport this afternoon due to ‘adverse weather conditions.’ The incident sparked an emergency response.
![[2GYYEG2 The Stena Line Superfast Vii ferry travelling along Belfast Lough towards Belfast Port Northern Ireland]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_232304489-86f1.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
It comes as strong winds continue to batter parts of the UK today causing major travel disruptions as millions of passengers head off for Christmas. Heathrow Airport cancelled more than 100 flights on Sunday, while ferries, roads and trains across the country have also been affected. At Heathrow, 80 of the cancellations are on British Airways and involve European and domestic flights.
![[Stansted Express train on a station platform.]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/SEI_223967288-af23.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
The Met Office has a yellow weather warning in place for Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and much of western England until 9pm, with winds of up to 70mph expected. Millions are expected to travel over the coming days during the Christmas getaway, with long traffic delays predicted at worst motorway hotspots.
![[A passenger with a suitcase on the London Underground station platform waiting for a Tube train to stop.]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_217510016-f911.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Part of a road outside Heathrow Airport has closed after a crash involving an overturned vehicle. The airport-bound traffic has stopped on the M4 on Heathrow Airport spur road between J4 and J4A after a rolled over vehicle. It is causing 15-minute delays in the area.
The Belfast Airport runway has been shut after a flight from Edinburgh was forced to make a ‘hard landing’ following strong winds. The whole of Northern Ireland and Scotland and parts of western England have been battered by gale force winds in places today after a Met Office yellow weather warning.
![[METRO WEATHER MAP]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_233735705-904b.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
