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Viral clip shows AirAsia pilot pulling off skilful ‘crab’ landing amid intense Taiwan crosswinds (VIDEO)
An AirAsia plane prepares to land in Chiangmai province, Thailand on March 22, 2024. — Reuters pic
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By Malay Mail
Wednesday, 13 May 2026 4:05 PM MYT
KUALA LUMPUR, May 13 — A video showcasing the precision and skill of an AirAsia pilot during a challenging landing at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport has gone viral, highlighting the technical rigour required to navigate severe weather.
The footage, captured on May 4, shows an AirAsia Airbus A320 battling powerful gusts as it approached the runway.
To counteract the force of the wind, the aircraft was seen performing what is known in aviation as a crosswind landing, where the plane is angled into the wind during its final descent, sometimes called “crabbing”.
In the dramatic clip, the commercial airliner appears to fly sideways toward the tarmac before the pilot expertly straightens the aircraft just moments before the wheels make contact.
This manoeuvre is a standard but highly demanding procedure taught to pilots to ensure the safety of passengers and crew when wind conditions are not aligned with the runway.
