Heavy landing on Madeira: Marabu flight causes a stir!

Heavy landing on Madeira: Marabu flight causes a stir!

Nowadays, flying is not only appreciated by travelers, but also always provides exciting stories. This is what happened with flight DI6321 from Nuremberg to Madeira, which kept passengers in suspense on Monday evening, July 10, 2025. The Airbus A320neo of the airline Marabu, with the registration ES-MBD, landed particularly hard on the airport runway in Funchal due to strong cross winds. This airport is considered one of the most challenging for pilots and is known for its demanding conditions.

The runway in Funchal is partly built on stilts over the Atlantic Ocean and has gained a reputation as a meme for risky landings. According to a report by Augsburger Allgemeine Airplanes often have to contend with treacherous crosswinds. The approach to Madeira is one of the most difficult in Europe, which poses a major challenge for the pilots.

An unforgettable approach

The landing of the Marabu flight coincided with strong wind conditions, although within operational limits. This was confirmed by the airline spokeswoman in another report from Aviation Direct confirmed. Despite the hard landing, which caused the plane to jump up briefly, there were no injuries and flight operations continued as planned. The Airbus was then comprehensively checked and was cleared for the return flight to Nuremberg, which took off 40 minutes late but still arrived safely.

Special training is required for pilots to be allowed to land in Madeira. Another report from Hiking and more makes it clear that only those with sufficient experience and regular flights in the last few months will be allowed into the challenging airport. The treacherous wind conditions and the absence of an instrument landing system require a high level of skill. This is the only way to ensure a safe landing amidst the steep cliffs and tight curves.

The viral hit

The video of the hard landing has now generated over 100,000 views on YouTube and is sparking discussion among aviation hobbyists and travelers. The excitement surrounding the incident is not least due to the fact that Funchal airport is often described as one of the most dangerous in the world. However, the trust in the pilots and the technology remains unbroken when you see how the crew landed safely despite all the challenges.

Marabu Airlines has been making headlines more often recently, especially after the redesign of its flight offering. Even after such incidents, airlines usually carry out further checks to ensure the safety of their fleet. Despite the challenges, Madeira remains popular as a travel destination and the risk is taken by most travelers in the long term to experience the beauty of this Portuguese island.