Story perspectives

Ryanair Lands in Manchester With 363kg Fuel After Go-Arounds

By Drooid · Sep 25, 2026, 6:04 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Ryanair Flight FR3418 landed in Manchester with only 363 kg fuel, far below the 1,100 kg reserve.
The flight encountered three windshear-induced go-arounds, twice at Prestwick and once at Edinburgh.
A diversion request to Manchester was refused because of a communication breakdown at the airport.
Pilots estimated landing with about 300 kg fuel, choosing Manchester as the safest alternate.
Manchester Airport later said diversion decisions rest with Airfield Control, not handling agents.

History

Historical Context

On July 23 1983 Air Canada Flight 143, a Boeing 767 piloted by Captain Bob Pearson and First Officer Maurice Quintal ran out of fuel after a metric-conversion mistake left only about 45 % of the needed load. The crew glided the aircraft for 17 minutes to an emergency landing at the former RCAF base in Gimli, Manitoba. The Board of Inquiry then required metric-only fuelling procedures and tighter checks.

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Story summary

Ryanair Flight FR3418 landed in Manchester with only 363 kg fuel, far below the 1,100 kg reserve.
The flight encountered three windshear-induced go-arounds, twice at Prestwick and once at Edinburgh.
A diversion request to Manchester was refused because of a communication breakdown at the airport.
Pilots estimated landing with about 300 kg fuel, choosing Manchester as the safest alternate.
Manchester Airport later said diversion decisions rest with Airfield Control, not handling agents.

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