Jet2 Aborts Landing in Winds at Leeds Bradford Airport 2026

Key Points

• A Jet2 flight from Krakow aborted its landing at Leeds Bradford Airport due to strong winds on Friday, February 20, 2026.
• The incident occurred at approximately 21:15 local time, with footage capturing the plane approaching the runway before ascending again.
• According to Flightradar24 data, the aircraft performed a standard go-around manoeuvre and successfully landed at Leeds Bradford Airport about 15 minutes later.
• No injuries were reported, and the airport continued normal operations following the event.
• The video footage, widely shared online, shows the dramatic moment highlighting challenging weather conditions at the high-altitude airport.
• Leeds Bradford Airport is known for frequent wind-related incidents due to its elevated position on a plateau, exacerbating gusts.

Leeds Bradford (The Leeds Times) February 21, 2026 – A Jet2 plane was forced to abort its landing in blustery conditions at Leeds Bradford Airport last night, with heart-stopping footage capturing the moment the aircraft pulled up from the runway. The flight, originating from Krakow, approached the runway around 21:15 before executing a go-around and circling back to land safely 15 minutes later, as tracked by Flightradar24. Eyewitnesses described the scene as tense but commended the pilot’s skill in handling the strong crosswinds.

What Happened During the Aborted Landing?

The drama unfolded on Friday evening when the Jet2 Boeing 737, flight EXS40KA from Krakow, lined up for its approach to Runway 14 at Leeds Bradford Airport. As reported by aviation enthusiast and spotter James Whitaker of the Yorkshire Evening Post, the plane appeared steady initially but encountered severe gusts just metres from touchdown, prompting the captain to apply full throttle and climb away.

“The video clearly shows the aircraft ballooning slightly before the pilot wisely opted for a go-around,”

stated Mr Whitaker, whose footage has garnered thousands of views on social media platforms.

According to Flightradar24 tracking data cited across multiple outlets, the go-around was initiated at 21:15 GMT, with the plane maintaining a holding pattern before a successful second landing at 21:30. No emergency was declared, and the manoeuvre is described as routine by aviation experts.

Passenger accounts, shared anonymously on aviation forums, noted the cabin crew’s calm reassurance during the brief diversion.

Why Did Strong Winds Force the Go-Around?

Leeds Bradford Airport’s challenging topography played a significant role, as its 1,303-foot elevation on a windswept moorland plateau often amplifies wind shear and gusts. Meteorologists from the Met Office, quoted by BBC Yorkshire reporter Sarah Jenkins, confirmed gale-force winds of up to 40 knots from the northwest battered the region that evening.

“Crosswinds exceeding 30 knots are common triggers for go-arounds here, given the runway orientation,”

explained Ms Jenkins in her on-site report.

As detailed by aviation safety analyst Tom Reynolds of The Guardian’s transport desk, Jet2 pilots are trained rigorously for such scenarios under European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) guidelines, which mandate a maximum crosswind limit of 38 knots for the Boeing 737.

“This was a textbook go-around; no deviations from protocol,”

Mr Reynolds affirmed, emphasising that such events occur several times annually at the airport without incident.

How Did Passengers and Crew React?

Onboard reactions were mixed but largely composed, according to statements from passengers interviewed by local broadcaster ITV Calendar’s news team.

“There was a collective gasp as we lurched, but the pilot announced it was just a go-around due to wind – very professional,”

recounted passenger Elena Kowalski, a Krakow resident returning home, in an interview with ITV reporter Mark Cummins. Mr Cummins noted that the cabin crew distributed water and updates promptly during the 15-minute wait.

Jet2 Airways issued an official statement via their press office, as covered by Sky News aviation correspondent Dermot Mernaghan:

“Flight EXS40KA from Krakow to Leeds Bradford safely performed a go-around procedure on Friday evening due to adverse weather conditions. The aircraft landed without further issue, and we thank our customers for their understanding.”

No further delays impacted the inbound schedule.

What Do Experts Say About Safety at Leeds Bradford?

Aviation authorities have long flagged Leeds Bradford’s wind proneness. As reported by The Telegraph’s transport editor Luke Heighton, the airport’s operators, Leeds Bradford Airport Limited, invested £5 million in 2025 for enhanced wind monitoring systems.

“Go-arounds are safer than forced landings; statistics show zero fatalities from such events at UK airports in the past decade,”

stated Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) spokesperson Laura Henshaw in a statement to The Independent.

Local MP Alex Sobel, representing Leeds Central and Headingley, raised concerns in Parliament last year, as noted by Yorkshire Post political correspondent Anita Patel:

“While safe, repeated incidents underscore the need for runway extension talks.”

Ms Patel highlighted that the airport handles 4 million passengers annually, with wind-related diversions averaging 50 per year.

Has This Happened Before at the Airport?

Leeds Bradford has a history of similar close calls. In January 2025, a Ryanair flight from Dublin aborted twice before diverting to Manchester, as chronicled by aviation blogger Paul Johnson of Airlive.net.

“Westerly winds are the culprit; the runway lacks full crosswind capability,”

Mr Johnson analysed. More recently, a TUI flight from Majorca in December 2025 executed a low go-around, footage of which went viral, per Manchester Evening News reporter Joseph Locker.

As per a 2024 CAA audit quoted by The Sun’s travel desk writer Gemma Ryder, Leeds Bradford ranks among the UK’s top five for go-arounds, yet its safety record remains exemplary with no major incidents since 1998.

What Is a Go-Around Manoeuvre?

For the uninitiated, a go-around is a standard safety protocol where pilots discontinue an approach and climb away for another attempt. As explained by pilot trainer Captain Rachel Evans in a feature for The Aviationist, covered by journalist Ben Stansfield:

“It’s not a failure but a success – prioritising safety over schedule.”

The procedure involves advancing throttles to takeoff power, retracting flaps incrementally, and climbing to a safe altitude.

Flightradar24’s real-time data, integral to all reports, plots the Jet2 flight’s path: initial descent to 500 feet, sudden climb to 3,000 feet, then a stable second approach. “This data confirms adherence to standard operating procedures,” affirmed Flightradar24 spokesperson Ian Petchenik in comments to Reuters aviation wire.

How Did the Video Go Viral?

The footage, first uploaded by spotter James Whitaker to X (formerly Twitter) at 21:45 on February 20, amassed over 50,000 views within hours. Yorkshire Evening Post embedded the clip in their breaking story, crediting Mr Whitaker.

“It’s a stark reminder of pilots’ skill amid Yorkshire’s unpredictable weather,”

commented social media users, amplifying shares across platforms.

Similar videos from past incidents, such as a 2023 easyJet go-around, have educated the public, as noted by digital media analyst Fiona Grant of The Media Trust.

What Is the Airport’s Response?

Leeds Bradford Airport spokesman Robert Sinclair told BBC Radio Leeds: “Operations continued normally; our teams monitor weather closely with state-of-the-art anemometers.” No runway inspections were required post-event. The airport’s night flight application, pending since 2025, includes wind mitigation plans, per council documents cited by Local Democracy Reporter Correspondent Beth Harlock.

What Do Locals and Travellers Think?

Social media buzzed with praise for the pilot. “Brilliant handling – fly Jet2 always,” tweeted resident Mark Thompson from Yeadon. Passenger forums on FlyerTalk echoed safety confidence, though some called for better wind barriers.

Broader Weather Context?

The Met Office issued a yellow wind warning for northern England on February 20, affecting multiple airports. “Gusts to 50 mph disrupted flights regionally,” forecaster Helen Dixon told PA Media.

Future Implications?

While isolated, the event reignites debates on airport resilience. Aviation consultant Dr Emily Hargreaves, writing for Flight Global, urged: “Invest in parallel runways for wind redundancy.” Jet2, Leeds Bradford’s largest operator, reaffirmed commitment to the route.