Shocking moment planes flip in strong 75mph winds on runway forcing airport to close as storms batter Italy

THIS is the shocking moment four planes are “thrown around like toys” at an airport as violent storms batter Italy. Wild footage shows extreme gusts of wind knocking the four light aircraft around the runway before causing them to flip over. Four planes were overturned by gale-force winds at an Italian airport Credit: aljazeera The planes were thrown ‘around like toys’ on the runway Credit: aljazeera One plane was blown off course during landing, while three other stationary aircraft were also tossed and flipped. It comes after a strong cyclone ravaged Forlì in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, with winds reaching around 120 km/h. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! The severe weather caused lots of damage, forcing Forlì Airport to temporarily close for an hour. Some parts of the airport’s hangar wall were ripped off and the arrivals terminal roof was damaged, according to reports. One of the plane’s fully flipped over in the storm Credit: aljazeera Cars moved like boats through the flooded streets of Chiavari Credit: X/mamboitaliano_ Once the winds slowed down, firefighters and airport emergency crews carried out extensive inspections to assess the wreckage and check for any hazards, such as fuel spills. The emergency teams also stabilised the remaining aircraft to prevent any further danger. Violent storms also swept through several other areas of northern Italy, including Liguria, Lombardy, Tuscany and the Italian Alps. The cyclone brought gale-force winds, lightning, flooding, and heavy rain. Most read in The Sun Flash flooding has affected large parts of northern Italy Credit: EPA Italian firefighters have been working to clear storm damage Credit: Vigili del Fuoco The storm has wreaked havoc on northern Italy, causing flash flooding, landslides, fallen trees, and power outages. On August 21, red thunderstorm warnings were issued in Liguria as the Italian Air Force National Meteorological Service warned its citizens to “be prepared.” Roads were turned into rivers in Chiavari, a town in Liguria, with cars floating like boats down the streets. That same day, 250 people were evacuated from a riverside campsite in Bergamo after rock and mud shifted near a river. This is the latest in a string of powerful storms that have swept through Europe, causing extensive damage. Elsewhere in Europe, extreme rain and winds have also hit Poland and Spanish tourist hotspots, Mallorca and Valencia. Comment now