On a normal two-sector trip, the crew of two pilots will operate a sector each. The captain will do the takeoff and landing in one direction and the first officer will do the same on the other direction. However, most airlines have a crosswind limit for co-pilots, normally around two-thirds of the aircraft’s limit. Anything beyond this, the captain must do the landing.

As a result, with the forecast for the arrival back into London on Sunday, most crew will have decided that the first officer flew the sector to New York. This left the captain with the responsibility of the landing in the forecast strong winds.