THIS is the horrifying moment a Boeing 747 wing crashes into the runway sending bursts of sparks into the air.
The UPS cargo flight 5X61 was attempting to land at Taiwan’s Taipei Taoyuan International Airport yesterday when it was struck by a vicious typhoon.
The jumbo jet, registered N613UP, attempted to land three times before finally touching down on the runway.
It had departed from Hong Kond-Chek Lap Kok International Airport (HKG) at just before 10am UK time.
Dramatic footage showed the aircraft jerking from side to side as it descended, before tipping as it slowed.
Its right wing then scratched the ground sending a flurry of sparks into the air.
Officials later confirmed the plane completed its rollout with no reported injuries.
It did sustain serious damage to its nacelle, however, and authorities have since launched an investigation into the incident.
An incident report from the Aviation Safety Network stated: “UPS flight 5X61, a Boeing 747-8F, suffered an engine pod strike during a night-time landing on runway 05L at Taipei-Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE).
“At the time of arrival, strong gusting winds with windshear associated with Typhoon Podul were reported at TPE. At 11:20 UTC, the flight aborted the approach to runway 05L and executed a go-around. The aircraft was positioned for another approach, which was also aborted.
“At 12:08 UTC, the aircraft landed after the third approach and taxied to the apron. Photos after the incident show a cowling had separated from the engine.”
This comes as hundreds of flights were cancelled in Taiwan this week due to Typhoon Podul, which swept across the country’s southern region.
Wind speeds of over 190 kph were reported resulting in more than 8,000 residents being evacuated from their homes across eight cities.
Over 110 injuries have been reported and one person remains missing.
Strong winds have long been a pilot’s nightmare. Over in Madeira, wobbly landings are all too familiar thanks to the island’s notoriously windy weather.
It has even been named as one of the world’s most dangerous airports – though accidents are rare.
Video from earlier this month showed the Marabu Airlines A320 being tossed around like a toy as it came in to land at the airport.
The heart-stopping moment saw the plane rock side to side by strong gusts of wind as it tried to land.
In the nail-biting footage a female passenger can be overhead shouting: “It’s going to come down on the top of the lorry, it’s going to crash.”
She can later be heard yelling: “My God, how amazing! How lucky!”
