Braving the Storm in Lanzarote: Finnair’s Holiday Flight’s Rough Landing Attempts – A Close Watch on the Situation

The thing is, sometimes the journey home from a holiday sticks in your memory for all the wrong reasons – and a tan has nothing to do with it. That was certainly the case for passengers on a Finnair flight returning from Lanzarote last week. It was a situation that was closely monitored, and it wasn’t just a one-off mishap – several other planes faced the same ordeal at the same airport.

Tension Mounts at the Airport – A Handful of Attempts and Finally a Diversion

I was keeping an eye on the situation myself via flight tracker apps and social media as the news started to come in. The Finnair holiday flight attempted to land in Lanzarote but had to admit that the conditions simply wouldn’t allow it. Eyewitnesses described the plane being buffeted by the wind like a cork in the ocean. One attempt, two attempts – and eventually, the plane had to pull up, circle around, and head for an alternative airport. It’s hardly what anyone hopes for when returning from their holidays.

But what really stood out in this case was that Finnair wasn’t alone. On that same day, Lanzarote saw wind gusts occasionally exceeding 70 kilometres per hour, which can easily make landing impossible, especially if they come from the wrong direction. Several other aircraft were in the same boat at the airport at the time. Some circled, hoping the wind would ease, but eventually, many were forced to make the same call as the Finnish plane.

Aviation Experts Weigh In: What’s Too Risky?

I had to discuss this with people from inside the industry. They don’t leave anything to guesswork; they get right down to what a pilot is actually thinking in the cockpit. One expert pointed out that in such a situation, the decision-making is straightforward: if you’re not sure, you don’t go. Lanzarote’s airport is known for its notoriously tricky winds, and while aircraft are built to withstand strong gusts, the final call always rests with the captain to ensure the safety of the passengers.

And that call was made. The Finnair plane eventually landed safely at another airport, and passengers were transported back. That’s the bottom line. It’s not about arriving half an hour early.

• Gusty Winds: Locals reported strong crosswinds near the airport that exceeded the safe limits for many aircraft types.
• Multiple Attempts: Several planes had to make at least two approach attempts before diverting to an alternate airport.
• No Technical Issues: I want to stress this, as many might first think of mechanical failures. This was purely about the weather, and every plane came through the situation unscathed.

What Does This Mean for Future Holidaymakers?

If you’re planning a trip to the Canary Islands or are about to leave, this incident is no cause for concern. On the contrary: it’s a sign that the system works. Weather forecasts for Lanzarote indicate calmer conditions in the coming days. Storms like this are typical for the region this time of year, but they are usually brief and pass quickly.

What left me thinking is how little passengers often know about what airline captains sometimes have to deal with. You’re sitting there in your seat, and the person next to you sighs because you’re flying to a "different" city. But when you see footage of how a plane behaves in the sky, you quickly realise that the captain has just steered you clear of a situation that could have turned really ugly.

In the end, everything turned out well. The planes were refuelled, passengers were transferred, and holidaymakers made it home – a little behind schedule, but safely. And that’s what truly matters.