CRAZY MIDWEST THUNDERSTORMS - STORMY Takeoff Chicago O'Hare - United Airlines - A320-232 - N451UA

READ DESCRIPTION: May 21, 2024: fueled by high heat and humidity, a hugely powerful storm system swept across the midwest. Stretching as far south as Chicago and all the way north to Minneapolis, the thunderstorms produced several tornadoes and incredibly high winds. Wind gusts exceeded 60MPH at times at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. This led to numerous go arounds and diversions at O'Hare. My flight took off right before the storm and flew north, but the storm caught us, and we were forced to punch through a lighter section on the radar. The United Airlines A320 I was flying on was struck by lightning several times and experienced severe turbulence.
Video Information:
Airline: United Airlines
Aircraft: Airbus A320-232
Reg: N451UA
Origin: Portland, ME (PWM)
Destination: Chicago, IL (ORD)
Flight Time: 2:52
Camera: iPhone X/Sony A7iii
Editing: FCPX
Please do not use any of the footage or audio in this video without my express permission.
Reed Foster 2024

[@flapsnslats]

This was QUITE the wild ride out of ORD. Saw numerous missed approaches and some crazy crabbing. We changed to a different runway, shut down the #2 engine and resumed SET 2x on the taxiway to conserve fuel so we could fly north to escape the storms. Thanks for watching.

[@kristinespencer7301]

What day was this? I think we might have been on that runway.

[@keeyonass5127]

YIKES

[@gedstrom]

Some years ago, I was on a Southwest flight from Las Vegas to Los Angeles. While taxing for takeoff, Our runway was switched a couple of times and we seemed to be taxing all of the place. The pilot finally came on the intercom and said "Well, we have taxied about as far as we can and will have to fly the rest of the way to Los Angeles." Everyone laughed.

[@MichaelChayhane]

Haha good story

[@karinbernard7341]

I laughed too 😅

[@afridgetoofar1818]

“Welcome onboard flight 516, heading out to…ah…Jim, where are we going again?”

[@user-nu1sq2fz8s]

Very funny

[@clqudy4750]

"Up, Bob! Up, over, and around some, then down again." "Oh, yeah..right! Could you hand me my flask, Jim?"

[@vuho2075]

Not his fault. Bozeman MT isn't exactly a memorable place

[@user-mz8bx8um3q]

You are going to...ah...Jim

[@ultrametric9317]

"Do you like movies about - gladiators?"

[@h2ovilleed]

Honestly this video was quite peaceful to me, call me crazy if ya want!

[@timbukh3]

Every time I see a video of a plane leaving the ground my mind cannot comprehend the difference between ground speed and how fast the plane is traveling through the air. While on the ground there is a feeling of speed, but once it is in the air I lose this awareness. I imagine it might sound ridiculous and I may be alone but thought I'd put it out there. Enjoyed the video.

[@Ja-94166]

You are not alone. Same here.

[@donkeeton7897]

Exactly all that speed on takeoff then it's poof your just gliding thru the air.

[@1019bulldog]

Ahh I remember this storm. I work at UPS in Omaha,NE and this very same storm diverted our A300 to Kansas City while we rode out the storm. Rain was so intense and hard that we couldn't even see the taxi lights that were only about 50 yards from our building and hail was reported getting up to near golf ball size. Glad you made it out in time because that storm was no joke.

[@markanthony1004]

Heeey I fly on United the most and I've been through O'Hare enough to have seen snow, rain, thunderstorms, high winds you name it. Love O'Hare honestly

[@bluehorseshoe9216]

nice camera- feels like i'm there

[@mikewilson4852]

You aren't kidding, Tuesday evening was a wild one. I flew into MKE Milwaukee about 6:30 PM and you could see the thunderstorm anvil tops blowing in from the west already. Southerly winds gusting to 40 mph then.

[@JacobTemple_CE]

Reminds me when I flew back home over the Rockies, seeing the wing bounce and flex like that was a bit of a surprise. Oddly fun with the amount of turbulence though 😂

[@edwardrosemond7169]

That was a cool flight!

[@hoylandy]

Best take off video ive seen, thanks

[@johnfritz1164]

Always fun to be at one of the C-Middle-of-Nowhere gates.

[@buckzx12r]

Last night was a very dicey night to fly.Really nasty winds and t storms.Great vid!

[@youngnurse9994]

Welcome aboard flight 516 We are making our way to , Ummmm, ahhhh , hmmmm to WHEREVER is on your boarding passes. 🤪🤓

[@facingthewind]

I can’t remember ever seeing approaches on the 22's at ORD and I’m on FR24 pretty much every day. Really like what you did with showing the other flights on the radar.

[@BFFAvgeek15]

That’s one of the best Chicago plane videos I’ve ever seen! Nice one! 😁✈️

[@flapsnslats]

Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed watching and appreciate the effort I put into these videos.

[@povertyspec9651]

Used to live near Chicago. Landing at Midway in dense fog, where you don't see the runway out the window until you're on it, was so much fun!

[@nickfishburn5490]

I remember that day, looking up at the westbound departures heading up to the north from the Arlington heights area. With the tailwind everyone was doing ~300 knots across the ground, just screaming

[@MileHigh_Aviation]

crazy storms indeed! great video!

[@DeltaAirtran]

You could tell it was a fast moving storm by just looking at how fast the clouds were moving. Pretty sick!

[@FAKP34]

Sehr cooles Video mit dem perfekten Sound. Danke

[@pennyparham4123]

Glad you made it safely to your destination

[@flapsnslats]

Thank you!

[@JK-mf1po]

Ok that gave me goosebumps and anxiety 😥 and I like travelling 😂

[@jeri8853]

Beautiful light! ❤

[@marksmith4582]

Awesome video Reed! I knew it! I have been following your channel since you flew on a Silver Airways Saab 340 in Florida! That was 13 years ago already! I knew there was a reason to follow your channel and videos! I really appreciate you sharing these over the years! I’m honored to be a subscriber! Many more happy years of flying Sir! From a long time subscriber! Mark in Iowa!

[@ClearforDeparture]

Gorgeous video.👍

[@coreyjordan2745]

Ok, this is going to be interesting. I remember this. This was just a couple of days ago. That wind was something else. And they still flew through this. I was thinking they would not try this. And I live in Bensenville, IL Four blocks from O'Hare. WOW. And I want to become a pilot. lol.lol. and fly regionals as a first officer.

[@TheBlebski]

Once sat at the end of a runway for 4 hours whilst we encountered a supposedly small storm shower prior to take off, it ended up being one of the worst storms Manchester uk Airport had ever had 🥹

[@BruceC]

Thanks!

[@flapsnslats]

Thank you, Bruce!!

[@michellebishop8743]

Awesome take off video

[@faustinofabro3408]

I’m new subscriber to your channel watching from Honolulu Hawaii

[@flapsnslats]

Thanks for subscribing!!

[@whitelion1111]

FINALLY!

[@heroknaderi]

Cool

[@vuho2075]

I like the pretty color lights

[@karenweaver134]

Beautiful moon shot! I have been really lucky with my air travel avoiding any big storms. Great video!

[@flapsnslats]

Thank you! Wish I’d had my bigger lens to get an even better shot of the moon.

[@Sam-gk9jb]

Pilot sounds like it's his first day😮

[@MELSOFF]

Nice how they turned on the second engine while taxiing

[@kzstv5667]

Good video 📹

[@frenchie4882]

I’ve taken off in stuff like this. One time the plane got hit by lightning. That was cool. Everything went totally white for a few seconds.

[@nextfriiday]

Cool vid. Grew up in the suburbs taking flights outta midway. Landings were, building, building, building, billboard, shit, power lines, road, shit, fence, runway. Phew.

[@janetashbrook5614]

Although pretty lights!

[@arcticmorning]

nice video...

[@caseyjames6306]

Great video! Bless whoever at 9:12

[@mperson1890]

That was a nervous cough.

[@PNWElevatorAviation]

I think you made the Chicago as the destination & Portland, ME as the origin in the description

[@beauhathaway6627]

We flew out of yvr later that night one of the most turbulent turns we had the wind direction changed a lot we had a lot of bumps and what ever and the seatbelt sign was on most of the flight

[@sweethaven5]

13:37 I would have been freaked out seeing the wing vibrating!!

[@joeharwellauthor9317]

Good video. It didn’t look like the flight was too bouncy after takeoff.

[@Grisha_Goryachev]

Connected in St. Louis that same day. Was late to the destination due to extensive reroute. The ride was pretty choppy even flying around the thunderstorms.

[@keeyonass5127]

Niiice

[@MontclairBoontonLineRailfan]

Flying into PWM this summer. Any tips?

[@Stevedrums741]

You know you're screwed when the wings are flapping before takeoff. Happened to me once from a EWR to LOG flight. We were delayed 8 hours and as one who doesn't like flying anyway, it was a hell flight. I got puked on by another passenger.....awful, awful stuff.

[@afridgetoofar1818]

This is why I book my flight as early in the morning as possible. Less chance of bad weather.

[@PLANEMANIA747]

Night 😊 Beautiful video ❤

[@Blackhawks87]

14:34 right over the Kennedy(Jane Addams/ I-90) and the top golf in Schaumburg I believe. If you guys took off westward and turned right( north) then that’s gotta be it.

[@kendallevans4079]

I live in S. CA My airport is SNA (John Wayne) I have never had a flight delay, missed flight, cancelled flight or ANY other change due to weather! Yup, it's expensive to live here but there are perks!

[@prestonrcasey]

I'm assuming the flight taking off at 9:55 was running right into a headwind?

[@amfwelsh]

Saw that front caused chaos in the New York area and up to Boston

[@NovejSpeed3]

Looked pretty sporty lol. Loved the shot of the plane taking off and crabbing into the wind!

[@flapsnslats]

My favorite shot as well! Thanks for watching

[@Dstew57A]

Damn how long was that taxi and wait really?

[@yanks1fan09]

Quite a bit of wind shear on the take off and climbs you can see the wing bounce. They don't call it the windy city for nothing.

[@TerrelLism]

Is this one of the older A320s? I flew United a few times last year and those things are God awfully loud. And the dog barks were hilarious lol.

[@karengentry2633]

I've been to this airport, on a united flight. I believe it was a 737 flight, to Denver Colorado.

[@xrippperrr-4071]

why do some flights on a320 families have the flaps down before pushback? /gen

[@user-fo4tm3zk4m]

Класс. Днем вырулил со стоянки, а поздно вечером взлетел😊. Красиво сняли. Молодцы

[@candymcdaniel5946]

All the pretty lights!!!! 😂

[@mooorecowbell4222]

a FEW bumps on the climb - out ??? ✈

[@hopehansen5573]

That looks like a terrible bumpy takeoff!

[@RaulRodriguez-wr8lq]

Thanks, too much traffic at this very busy airport, we have soo many storms, and dangerous all the time, the worst enemy for any aircraft.

[@JocularHunterOfficial]

Lmao i love that seat

[@WendysCove]

Why oh why is the take-off is slowing 🎉🎉🎉

[@PorkChopJones]

This reminds me of using a flight simulator, looks almost realistic doesn't it?

[@kezzachadda8175]

Lovely take off...but WHERE was the " storm"....???

[@flapsnslats]

Did you not see it? lol

[@emiliobishop6096]

Dude I went on flight chigago to Huston

[@alexthomas5543]

🔔END

[@kevinleake01]

Takeoff is at 12:46 .

[@UMDbulldogs2015]

"Got struck by lightening several times." Right.....how do you know that...?

[@collinallison283]

What was the landing like?

[@flapsnslats]

Totally standard - we flew past the storms so no weather.

[@kristenfuller9168]

Where is the thunderstorm? It didn't look like a storm It just looked a bit cloudy partly cloudy with moon out. Where's the storm? It didn't look like storm .

[@tullibee]

This was the same storm system that launched tornadoes in Iowa. My assumption. Surprised you even departed.

[@flapsnslats]

Yes, it was and I was surprised we got out too. Thanks for watching

[@tullibee]

@@flapsnslats Hey, in the future, don't get on these flights. Too risky. Your videos are too enjoyable. Lol.

[@Worldtraveler2003]

40 mph winds predicted during takeoff and he says a few bumps? Lol I have landed in 40 mph winds .. it was more than a few bumps.. it was wild.. never been so happy to be on the ground.

[@JustinBalingit-jd2ct]

The National Weather Service has been issued a Severe Thunderstorm warning for the United States and and Tulsa Oklahoma City and Topeka Kansas City 4:02

[@JustinBalingit-jd2ct]

A Tornado Warning and Watch is issued for until 720 and 900 6:30

[@JustinBalingit-jd2ct]

For and Western Australia and Other countries in the UK 8:03 8:09

[@JustinBalingit-jd2ct]

And Go animate 9:05

[@JustinBalingit-jd2ct]

And Go animate Tornado Warning Until further notice and Be aware and The Rest of the Family and the Moore EF5 12:28

[@JustinBalingit-jd2ct]

The Moore EF5 rips through Bridge Creek Killing more people and Children in the school 15:06

[@christinaramer892]

WHAT STORM??

[@richclay4209]

United, even back in the 80"s, the airline just off a lawsuit that was forced allowed washed up union flight attendants that had to turn sideways to negotiate the isle way to come back and be as rude as possible to passengers.

[@vvinniem8907]

That was just a normal smooth take off. Where's the turbulence?

[@fiqihfadli3857]

I❤airbus 😂

[@wirisqueiroz3648]

Is O'hare the hub of UNITED?

[@sherrymartin3834]

Yes

[@micotsaynes]

Is that a New Livery

[@GarlandTexasSpotter2024]

Yes

[@ragman5526]

uh stormy ???? was that the name of the pilot

[@fernandovergara3119]

Aropuerto muy difícil 10 personas saber conose sordo

[@fernandovergara3119]

Más viejo saber mucho años saber conose por camara videos mucho perdón dolor sordo

[@sairaabid9654]

Because I suck at thunderstorms in this location

[@babaxv2623]

Worst pushback ever 😂

[@Blank00]

What's your thoughts on all the blame Boeing has been getting for their share of tuebulence on SQ321?

[@flapsnslats]

I think it’s ridiculous people are pointing fingers at a manufacturer. They don’t control the weather. But not good for the majority of the uneducated flying public who see a bad news aviation story involving a Boeing and equate that to Boeing being at fault. What do you think?

[@Blank00]

@@flapsnslats the red herring that forces a connection between a not-Boeing-fault incident and a Boeing-fault incident has been getting out of hand not since AS1282, but since ET302. I'd say SQ321 ties alongside a ground collision at ORD and the LH 748 landing as the most ridiculous example of use of red herring

[@GalootWrangler]

@@flapsnslats It’s good to see that said. Let Boeing take its heat for actual misdeeds, not the likes of that. Sooner or later, we’ll read how a “Boeing A320 narrowly missed colliding with a Boeing A330.”

[@jessicaoakes6173]

Where was the "crazy Midwest thunderstorms"?

[@ericvonp]

The plane can handle a lot more than passengers….just saying

[@anapilot5618]

0:01

[@tahititoutou3802]

"Stormy"????

[@tonyrowland9216]

you could could have cut 14 min off and not missed anything.

[@flapsnslats]

Easy to fast forward!

[@ArshmanAhmad-nb6ix]

There was no thunderstorm

[@flapsnslats]

Right, did you watch?

[@Curvelz]

Blind as a rock 😂

[@user-mz8bx8um3q]

There's no thunderstorm, but I'm not blind 😂

[@alejandrosanin4739]

🔴I didn’t see any thunderstorms

[@Curvelz]

Blind as a rock 😂

[@bobsheppard8773]

Meh, I've been through worst

[@flapsnslats]

It’s not a competition, Bob ;)