Part 2/9:
On this day, a crew from TAP Air Portugal prepared for a flight from Lisbon to Copenhagen. The pilots were aware of the challenges posed by the weather conditions in Copenhagen, which included strong gusty winds and a short runway orientation that contributed to tricky crosswinds.
As they briefed their five cabin crew colleagues and examined flight plans and safety protocols, the captain, a seasoned pilot with approximately 10,000 hours of operational experience, assumed the role of the pilot flying. Given the forecasted crosswinds and relatively short runway, this decision was logical: it’s standard for captains to take control in challenging situations.