Ryanair Flight Fuel Emergency: Plane Landed at Manchester With Minutes of Fuel Left
A Ryanair passenger plane carrying 177 people landed at Manchester Airport with only minutes of fuel remaining after severe weather forced the crew to abandon several landing attempts.
The Boeing 737-800 was flying from Pisa in Italy to Glasgow Prestwick Airport on October 3, 2025, when Storm Amy caused dangerous wind conditions across the UK.
The aircraft eventually landed at Manchester with only 363kg of fuel remaining. That was significantly below the aircraft’s required final reserve of 1,100kg.
The incident has now been detailed in a report by the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), which classified the event as a serious incident.
Severe Weather Disrupted the Flight
The flight had been planned with additional fuel because the crew expected possible delays and diversions caused by the weather.
However, conditions became more difficult as the aircraft approached its destination.
The crew attempted to land at Prestwick twice. Both approaches were affected by windshear, a sudden change in wind speed or direction that can make landing dangerous.
The pilots carried out windshear escape manoeuvres and abandoned the approaches.
With the weather continuing to deteriorate, the crew decided to divert to Manchester Airport.
Manchester Diversion Request Was Not Accepted
The crew contacted Manchester Airport and requested permission to divert there.
According to the AAIB investigation, the diversion request was not accepted at first because of a communication breakdown involving the airport and its handling arrangements.
The aircraft was instead diverted toward Edinburgh Airport.
The AAIB said Manchester Airport had the capacity to receive the aircraft. The airport later reiterated that diversion requests should be accepted when there is capacity and that decisions about accepting diversions do not rest with handling agents.
Another Failed Approach
The situation became more serious after the aircraft reached Edinburgh.
The crew encountered another windshear event and had to carry out an additional escape manoeuvre before abandoning the approach.
By this stage, fuel levels had fallen considerably.
The pilots then declared a MAYDAY fuel emergency and diverted back toward Manchester.
The commander determined that landing at Manchester was the safest option, even though the aircraft would arrive below its required final fuel reserve.
Plane Landed With Just Minutes of Fuel
The aircraft finally landed safely at Manchester.
The AAIB said 363kg of fuel remained when the Boeing 737-800 touched down. Reports based on the investigation indicate that this represented only around five to six minutes of flying time.
The aircraft had 171 passengers and six crew members on board.
No injuries were reported.
The crew’s original decision to carry extra fuel had provided additional protection against delays. However, repeated approaches, diversions and severe weather consumed much of that reserve.
Airport Changes Procedures
The investigation highlighted the importance of clear communication when an aircraft needs to divert during an emergency.
Manchester Airport has since reiterated its policy that diversion requests should be accepted when the airport has the capacity to handle an aircraft.
The airport also clarified that handling agents do not have authority to refuse a diversion when the airport itself can safely accommodate the aircraft.
The finding is significant because fuel emergencies can develop quickly when aircraft are forced to make repeated approaches in severe weather.
What the Investigation Found
The AAIB did not suggest that the pilots deliberately took an unsafe approach to fuel management.
Instead, the investigation described a difficult sequence involving severe weather, repeated windshear events and the failed communication surrounding the diversion to Manchester.
The crew had planned for additional fuel before departure. That extra fuel gave them more options as conditions changed.
However, the combination of several aborted approaches and diversions eventually left the aircraft with very little fuel.
The Ryanair flight fuel emergency shows how quickly weather disruptions can change an otherwise routine journey.
The aircraft ultimately reached Manchester safely, but the incident has prompted changes to airport procedures designed to reduce the risk of similar communication problems during future diversions.
About the Author
