Ryanair, known for its cost-cutting measures and thrifty reputation, is facing scrutiny over claims of "harder-than-average" landings. The airline's Twitter/X account often embraces its frugal image, which includes jokes about charging for toilet usage and memes about the infamous 11A 'window' seat that lacks an actual window.
Passengers have commented on Ryanair's alleged tendency to perform harder-than-usual landings. While some dismiss these claims as imaginary, others believe there might be some truth to them. A hard landing occurs when an aircraft lands with a higher-than-normal vertical load factor, typically involving a descent rate of at least 240 feet per minute or 2G in vertical force.
Boeing certifies its aircraft to handle landings up to 600 fpm or 2.6G at maximum landing weight. Boeing recommends firmer landings for safety reasons, especially in wet conditions or airports with shorter runways.