Full Breakdown
Ryanair Flight FR3418 Lands in Manchester After Low-Fuel Emergency Amid Storm Amy
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Emergency Landing After Multiple Wind-shear Abortions
On a scheduled 3 October flight from Pisa International Airport to Glasgow Prestwick Airport, Ryanair flight FR3418, a Boeing 737-800 carrying 171 passengers and six crew, was forced to abort three landing attempts because of wind-shear warnings. After two go-arounds at Prestwick and a third at Edinburgh, the crew declared a fuel-emergency Mayday and diverted to Manchester Airport, touching down with fuel significantly below the required final reserve.
Background & Context: Storm Amy and Flight Planning
The flight took place during Storm Amy, the first named storm of the season, which produced gale-force winds and heavy rain across Scotland and northern England. Anticipating disruption, Ryanair issued a storm pack and the crew loaded additional fuel—more than an hour’s worth beyond the planned consumption—to accommodate possible delays and alternate-airport diversions.
Timeline
- 3 October (scheduled): Departure from Pisa at 3:28 pm, bound for Prestwick.
- ~5:00 pm: First wind-shear warning at 264 ft; pilots enter holding pattern.
- ~5:15 pm: Second approach aborted after a second wind-shear alert.
- ~5:30 pm: Request to divert to Manchester denied; pilots request diversion to Edinburgh, which is accepted after five minutes.
- ~6:45 pm: Third wind-shear warning at Edinburgh; crew declares “MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY FUEL” and requests immediate diversion to Manchester.
- 7:52 pm: Aircraft lands at Manchester with 363 kg of fuel remaining.
Data & Statistics
- Fuel on arrival: 363 kg (AAIB) – below the final reserve requirement of either 1,100 kg (Travelweekly, Herald Scotland) or 1,101 kg.
- Fuel remaining after taxi: 240 kg, enough for roughly five to six minutes of flight.
- Additional fuel carried: Over one hour of extra fuel beyond the planned load.
- Total flight time: Approximately 4 hours 30 minutes from take-off to Manchester landing; 1 hour 45 minutes elapsed from the first go-around at Prestwick to the final touchdown.
- Wind-shear events: Three separate wind-shear escape manoeuvres triggered the aborts.
Official Statements & Responses
The Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) concluded that the crew’s decision to divert to Manchester was driven by the assessment that Edinburgh could not guarantee a safe landing under the prevailing wind-shear conditions and that another go-around would have left insufficient fuel for further attempts. The AAIB noted that the crew had selected Manchester as their preferred alternate from the outset, influencing their decision-making.
Manchester Airport, following the investigation, reiterated its policy that diversion requests are accepted when the airport has capacity, and clarified that the decision rests with Airfield Control rather than handling agents. The airport said it is reviewing procedures to prevent future communication breakdowns.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Final-reserve fuel figure: Sources differ between 1,100 kg and 1,101 kg as the required minimum.
- Predicted fuel on arrival: The crew’s internal calculation projected landing with about 300 kg of fuel, yet the AAIB recorded 363 kg remaining at touchdown.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Although the airport and handling agent policies at Manchester meant that the diversion should have been accepted, a breakdown of communication within the airport led to it being refused. View 3 Images The flight path the plane took (Image: AAIB)” — Manchester. The AAIB — Manchester. The AAIB
