Footage has emerged of a Ryanair Boeing 737 MAX abandoning its landing at Dublin Airport (DUB) after it rolled sharply to the right in the final seconds of landing, leading to a wingtip strike on the runway. A passenger on board shared a video of the aborted landing, which occurred amid significant crosswinds.

The flight crew performed a go-around before repositioning and landing safely on the second attempt. A Ryanair spokesperson told Simple Flying that a “minor wingtip impact” occurred during the landing, adding that its engineers repaired the wing before the jet re-entered service the following day.

Ryanair 737 MAX Repaired After Striking Wingtip On Runway

Credit: Jacek1708 | Shutterstock

The incident occurred on Thursday, September 10, and involved EI-ILA — a Boeing 737 MAX 8200 delivered to Ryanair less than one year ago — which was operating flight FR9457 from Bologna / Borgo Panigale Airport (BLQ). The aircraft was in the final stages of its approach to Dublin when it suddenly rolled sharply to the right as it was about to land. The footage shows the 737 MAX’s right wingtip make a scraping contact with the runway before the pilots increased thrust for a go-around.

During the landing, the pilots were grappling with strong gusts around Dublin. Ryanair described the impact as minor, but it still required a proper inspection and repair job that kept the plane grounded for several hours. Flight tracking data shows EI-ILA spent almost ten hours on the ground in Dublin, which is far longer than Ryanair’s notoriously quick turnaround times.

Having touched down at 12:06 PM local time, it would eventually depart Dublin at 9:59 PM, operating flight FR5563 to Glasgow. It then flew back to Dublin on the return FR5562 service, landing at 12:21 AM+1. According to a Ryanair spokesperson,

“Ryanair flight FR9457 from Bologna suffered a minor wing tip impact. The aircraft landed safely and all passengers offloaded normally. Our engineers have repaired the wing tip and the aircraft has since gone back into service.”

How Dangerous Are Wingtip Strikes?

Credit: Marco Menezes | Shutterstock

Although a minor wingtip strike tends to result in limited damage, it can still pose several dangers if not properly repaired. Because of this, airlines take any suspected wingtip strike seriously and have the aircraft checked before it returns to service. More severe wingtip strikes can damage the wing itself, which would require extensive inspections or repairs.

The Boeing 737 MAX 8200 involved in Thursday’s incident is equipped with Boeing’s Advanced Technology winglets, which feature both an upper and lower section extending from the end of the wing. Their main purpose is to reduce drag and improve the aircraft’s efficiency, leading to lower fuel burn and improved cost per seat economics.

Ryanair was involved in a notable incident in June 2025, when another 737 MAX 8200 (EI-HMZ) struck a blast fence while taxiing at Kalamata Airport in Greece, damaging a part of its right winglet. This jet was also repaired promptly on-site and returned to service several hours later.

Landing Amid Strong Winds

Credit: E.R. Images | Shutterstock

Landing in strong or gusty winds is one of the more challenging parts of being a pilot. Difficult winds are a common hazard throughout a commercial pilot’s career, requiring constant adjustment of the aircraft’s position and angle as the wind changes. Sudden gusts can be particularly difficult during the flare when the aircraft is only a few feet above the runway.

Should the pilots feel the approach becoming too unstable, they can perform a go-around by increasing thrust and climbing ahead of another landing attempt or diversion to a nearby airport. In some cases, the flight crew may enter a holding pattern and await air traffic control (ATC) or dispatch instructions, and are legally required to carry enough surplus fuel onboard for such contingencies.

During Thursday’s incident, Dublin Airport was experiencing gusts of up to 26 knots as well as variable wind directions. Although not unusually strong or beyond the Boeing 737’s normal operating capability, the combination of gust timing and changing direction appears to have made the landing more difficult.