The dramatic moment EasyJet plane battles gale force winds and is forced to land SIDEWAYS at Inverness Airport during Storm Abigail

  • During its decent, the passenger plane can be seen swaying side to side
  • The plane approached sideways while battling strong winds of up to 80mph
  • A spokesman for the airline said that the winds were within operating limits

By Georgia Diebelius For Mailonline

Published: 08:14 EST, 16 November 2015 | Updated: 08:40 EST, 16 November 2015

Video footage has emerged of a passenger plane making a dramatic landing at Inverness Airport after getting caught in Storm Abigail.

The EasyJet flight, which landed at the airport in Scotland last week, approached the runway sideways while battling gale force winds of up to 80mph.

During its decent, the plane can be seen swaying from side to side, making a lurch towards the right as it makes its final approach.

The plane lands sideways during the storm before straightening up when the wheels touch the tarmac

The plane lands sideways during the storm before straightening up when the wheels touch the tarmac

Following the shaky decent, the aircraft makes a bumpy landing before straightening up - but only after the wheels touch the tarmac.

Towards the end of the footage, another plane is seen battling the heavy winds as it takes off. 

A spokesman for the airline said: 'Although the footage may appear dramatic the winds were within operating limits and easyJet's pilots are highly trained in order to manage all weather conditions. 

'The aircraft performed an entirely safe landing. Safety is the airline's highest priority.'

Former Pilot Steven Draper of the British Airline Pilots Association told MailOnline Travel: 'Pilots are highly trained and use their skills day-in-day-out, so are well equipped to undertake this type of manoeuvre.

'Landing in strong crosswinds or turbulence goes beyond the capabilities of the aeroplanes automatic pilot. 

'Pilots use their skills, training and experience to complete crosswind landings safely. 

'This is a good example of why a pilot should be alert and free from fatigue when landing, and be given the opportunity to develop excellent handling skills.' 

During its decent, the plane can be seen swaying from side to side, making a lurch towards the right as it makes its final approach

During its decent, the plane can be seen swaying from side to side, making a lurch towards the right as it makes its final approach

Storm Abigail, the first storm to be given a name by the Met Office, arrived in Britain last week.

The storm, which swept in across the Atlantic, brought downpours and winds of up to 80mph in the far North.

A yellow severe weather warning was put in place for northern Scotland.

Last week, MailOnline Travel covered the incredible footage which shows the moment a passenger plane found it almost impossible to steer, veering off sharply to the right, on landing at Birmingham Airport.

The Flybe flight had just come into the Midlands airport after leaving Dusseldorf in Germany earlier that day.

The clip shows the Bombardier Dash 8 twin-engine turboprop airliner making a rocky descent onto the runway, and once the wheels have hit the tarmac, the right-side of the aircraft bounces up slightly. 

The plane is forced to land almost sideways as it approaches the tarmac at Birmingham Airport

The plane is forced to land almost sideways as it approaches the tarmac at Birmingham Airport

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