Is it safe to fly in strong wind?
Windy days mean bumpier approaches and sometimes a plane that seems to land sideways. Airliners are tested in crosswinds, pilots practise them, and big airports have systems that watch for dangerous wind shifts.
In this article · 7 sections
What wind feels like from your seat
Windy days have their own feel: a bumpy final approach, the wings rocking, and sometimes the strange sight of the runway sliding past at an angle as you come in. Those are the visible signs of pilots doing something very routine.
Crosswinds are tested and practised
Before an airliner type is certified, the manufacturer has to establish a crosswind (wind blowing straight across the runway) that's been demonstrated to be safe for takeoff and landing. US rules require that demonstrated value to be at least 20 knots, or a higher figure tied to the airplane's stall speed if that's greater, though the demonstration doesn't have to go beyond 25 knots.1 It's a tested figure, shown in flight, not a guess.
The FAA's flying handbook notes that most landings are made with the wind blowing at some angle to the runway, and that all pilots should be prepared to manage it.2
Why the plane seems to fly sideways
There are two standard ways to land in a crosswind. In the crab method, the pilot turns the nose slightly into the wind so the airplane's path stays lined up with the runway, then uses the rudder just before touchdown to straighten the nose. In the wing-low method, the pilot lowers the wing facing the wind. Many landings blend the two.2 If you've watched a landing video where the airplane looks like it's coming in at an angle, that's a crab. It's deliberate.
Gusts make it bumpy, and pilots adjust
Gusts are changes in wind speed. In turbulent, gusty conditions the handbook describes adding part of the gust factor to the approach speed, so a sudden lull doesn't leave the airplane slow.2 That extra margin is why landings on windy days can feel a bit faster and firmer.
Watching for wind shear
Wind shear is a sudden change in wind speed or direction over a short distance. Near thunderstorms it can be strong, which is one reason pilots avoid storms. The FAA uses several systems to detect it around airports, including Low Level Wind Shear Alert Systems (wind sensors around the runways) and Terminal Doppler Weather Radar, and the warnings appear on displays in the control tower so controllers can read them straight to pilots.3 Pilots who meet wind shear are urged to report it so the aircraft behind them know.4 Airlines also train their pilots in simulators on how to fly out of a wind shear encounter.3
When wind changes the plan
Sometimes the wind is simply too strong or too gusty for a particular runway, and the pilots go around, hold, use a different runway or divert. That can be frustrating, but each of those is a normal choice made to keep a margin, not a sign of trouble. See Go-arounds.
Keep reading
- Go-arounds: why pilots sometimes abort a landing
- Air pockets, explained
- Thunderstorms: why pilots go around them
- See today's bumps along your route with My Flight
Quick answers
Can planes land in strong winds?
Yes. Every airliner type must have a crosswind demonstrated to be safe for takeoff and landing during certification, at least 20 knots or a higher speed-based figure. Pilots also choose runways that face the wind where they can, and practise crosswind landings in training.
Why did the plane look like it was landing sideways?
In a crosswind, pilots often point the nose slightly into the wind so the airplane tracks straight down the runway. This is called crabbing. Just before touchdown they line the nose up with the runway.
What is wind shear and how do pilots avoid it?
Wind shear is a sudden change in wind speed or direction. Many US airports have systems such as Terminal Doppler Weather Radar and wind sensors that alert controllers, who read the warnings to pilots. Airlines train their pilots in simulators to handle it.
Why was the approach so bumpy on a windy day?
Gusty wind means the airplane keeps meeting small changes in wind speed, which you feel as bumps. Pilots add a little extra speed in gusty conditions so a sudden lull doesn't leave them slow.
Sources
(4)
- 14 CFR § 25.237, Wind velocities (demonstrated crosswind)
- FAA Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3C), Chapter 9: Approaches and Landings (crosswind and gusty conditions)
- FAA Aeronautical Information Manual, 7-1-24 Microbursts (wind shear detection systems)
- FAA Aeronautical Information Manual, 7-1-22 Wind shear PIREPs
Facts last checked against these sources: October 18, 2026.