The flight from Corfu touched down during Storm Babet in October 2023, although the landing was described by air traffic control as “smooth”. 

Despite this, the Boeing 737-800 left the runway at 63mph after veering to the left due to a crosswind. It came to a halt after six seconds embedded in earth; 195 passengers and six crew disembarked without injury.

When the aircraft, which was then 12 years old, was examined, the nosewheel was found to be still operational despite the mechanical issue and a juddering heard by the pilots on the runway.

The Air Accident Investigation Branch’s report said: "The failure of the bearing did not prevent the nosewheel from rotating nor did it affect the ability to steer the nosewheels," adding there was “no evidence” the crew could not use the rudder to avoid veering off the runway.

It added the flight’s deviation from the centre of the runway, due to a strong crosswind, “required more right rudder input than was applied, in order to correct it”.

The report noted “unusual juddering from the nosewheel”, but concluded: “There was no mechanical defect identified by the investigation which would have prevented the crew from applying the additional right rudder that was available to keep the aircraft on the runway.

"However, the crew’s actions may have been influenced by the nosewheel juddering.”