A Qantas pilot has received high praise for safely landing a passenger plane during cyclonic winds.
The empty QantasLink plane travelled from safekeeping in Tamworth to arrive in Brisbane amid gloomy skies on Saturday ahead of flights resuming Sunday morning.
Twelve hours after Tropical Cyclone Alfred was downgraded to a tropical low and crossed the eastern shoreline, the Dash Eight turboprop QantasLink plane struggled against strong winds to touch down.
The plane’s nose dipped just moments before its wheels touched the runway, only for another blow to push its right wing higher than its left.
Finally, all three wheels hit the runway.
No passengers were onboard at the time.
YouTuber Julia Flights filmed as the plane was battered by gales.
The video has since attracted more also 110,000 views and many comments praising the pilot.
A Qantas pilot struggled against cyclonic winds to safely land an empty plane in Brisbane on Saturday
Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin scrapped flights to and from south-east Queensland on Thursday as Tropical Cyclone Alfred inched toward the coast. Pictured is the Brisbane suburb of Kedron Brook underwater on Sunday
‘Happy to fly with that pilot any day,’ one viewer commented.
‘That is a pilot who is confident in (their) ability. That was a hard approach executed very well,’ another said.
A third wrote: ‘What a masterpiece of landing!’
The plane was one of the first to be relocated to Brisbane for flights to resume on Sunday morning.
Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin flights in and out of Brisbane were cancelled effective mid-afternoon Thursday as the cyclone moved closer to the mainland.
Qantas’ domestic and international flights to and from Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Ballina largely resumed from 6am Sunday.
However, the strong winds meant only some of its fleet could be moved from safekeeping into service.
‘We continue to closely monitor the weather conditions and schedules are progressively building throughout the day,’ a spokesperson said.
The QantasLink plane was moved from Tamworth, where it was being held in safekeeping, to Brisbane on Saturday ahead of flights resuming on Sunday
‘As a result of flooding at Hervey Bay airport, Qantas and Jetstar have suspended operations for the remainder of the day with further weather and safety assessments to take place tomorrow.
‘Customers should regularly check the Qantas app, Qantas.com and Jetstar.com, and their email and SMS channels to check their flight status.’
The spokesperson thanked travellers for their patience during the trying weather.
‘Among the passengers today are more than 60 Queensland SES volunteers, who are heading to Brisbane to help support the recovery efforts,’ they said.
‘Customers are being offered additional flexibility including travel credits and fee- free date changes to those who have booked flights to or from the impacted areas.’
Multiple Virgin flights from Brisbane were cancelled on Sunday with the airline working to resume its schedule.
Flights resumed at Brisbane Airport (pictured) on Sunday after several days of cancellations
The airline also offered those flying to or from Ballina, Brisbane, Bundaberg, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast airports the option to reschedule their trip or cancel it in exchange for credit.
‘The original ticket must be issued on or before Friday, 7 March 2025. Moving to a new flight is subject to availability,’ it said in a statement.
‘Guests whose flights have been cancelled as a result of the cyclone will be able to rebook onto the next available Virgin Australia service, or request a travel credit or refund.
‘Please note, call wait times through to our Guest Contact Centre are longer than usual. We appreciate the patience of all travellers during this time.’
