I dunno whether to blame the pilot or not, but I’m more on it’s NOT the pilot’s fault (infact, he did a GREAT job there! quick thinking!) Landings like this seem “routine” when you see the number of other videos of successful crosswind landings. In each of those videos you’ll notice that the plane comes down diagonally, and then straightens out when the wheel touch. The A320 in Hamburg bounced, which allow that gust of wind to almost throw it to the side of the runway. Fortunately, the pilot was experienced enough to get it back up. Kudos to this pilot and he certainly deserves a hell lot of medals!

In Phuket, Thailand not long ago from this, the pilot of the plane that crashed there possibly was in the same situation - but instead of taking off he thought he can get it on the ground. That was his mistake. Plenty dead because of that bad decision. It’s probably easy for me to say because I’m not at the helm of a commercial jet… but say if I was a pilot, I think I would have had quicker thinking skills.

I spoke with an A320 pilot today. Apparently there is a 29 knot crosswind limitation for landing (differing with runway condition i.e. rain, snow, ice). This obviously exceeded that limit. While the pilot(s) did, in fact, make an incredible recovery, the ultimate decision to land rests with the aircraft’s captain, not the tower. The aircraft captain should have requested a go-around. BTW, I disagree with John who states the pilot was a 24 year old female named Maxi J. A 24 year old person would have been a flight engineer at best. It takes many years to be upgraded to the status of captain. Oh, and there’s also the 1st officer who sits in the right seat that you must also upgrade to before captain. Sorry John. Bottom line, thank God all lived.