An airline pilot had to ditch an attempt to land only metres above the tarmac as powerful crosswinds blew the 150-seater jet off-course.

Passengers were given a wild ride as the Airbus A320 battled 128kmh winds above Manchester Airport courtesy of Storm Clodagh, which has battered Britain for the past few days.

The plane is filmed lurching towards the runway at an angle until at seemingly the last moment the pilot realises he can't bring it in safely and powers back up into the stormy skies.

Photographer Simon Whittaker filmed the moment the Monarch Airbus A320 aborted the attempt, The Daily Mail reports.

"The weather was dreadful and treacherous at the airport. It was pouring with rain. I would say there were around 10 aircraft which attempted to land but pulled up on approach," he said.

"The Monarch just drifted off the centre line at the last moment. It must have been a crosswind.

"The pilot used their discretion and must have decided not to land."

Storm Clodagh has brought wild weather to most of the UK and caused chaos for public transport.

Severe snow storms have hit parts of north England, and Scotland has recorded up to 30cm snowfall in some locations.

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