Ryanair Flight Landed with Just Six Minutes of Fuel Remaining

A Ryanair flight diverted to Manchester Airport on October 3, 2025, landing with only six minutes of fuel left after struggling to land in Scotland during Storm Amy. The flight, operated by Malta Air and designated as Flight FR3418, began its journey in Pisa, Italy, and was scheduled to arrive at Glasgow Prestwick International Airport. However, strong winds reaching up to 100 miles per hour thwarted multiple landing attempts, forcing the aircraft to seek a safer location.

The Boeing 737-800, capable of carrying up to 189 passengers, attempted two landings at Glasgow Prestwick before diverting to Edinburgh Airport. Each attempt was unsuccessful due to the severe weather conditions. After this, the flight continued on to Manchester, where the weather was reportedly milder. The pilots made an emergency call as they approached the airport, having burned through almost all their fuel reserves.

Upon landing at Manchester at 20:51 local time, the aircraft had a mere 220 kilograms of fuel remaining, which translates to approximately five to six minutes of flight time. The aircraft had 100 kilograms left in the left tank and 120 kilograms in the right tank, leaving insufficient fuel for a go-around if necessary.

The UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has launched an investigation into the incident. According to a Ryanair spokesperson, the airline reported the situation to the relevant authorities and is cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation. The spokesperson refrained from providing further comments due to the sensitive nature of the inquiry.

Passengers aboard the flight described a harrowing experience during the journey. Originally scheduled to land in Glasgow at 19:00, the flight spent nearly two additional hours in the air before finally reaching Manchester. Many passengers were unaware of how critical the fuel situation had become until after they landed. One individual recounted to the Ayr Advertiser that the plane was “buffeted around a lot,” expressing relief upon landing safely.

The flight encountered similarly poor conditions at Edinburgh, forcing the pilots to pull up sharply during their landing attempt. After arriving at Manchester almost two hours late, passengers were then transported by bus to Prestwick Airport, arriving ten hours behind schedule. Other flights attempting to land at Prestwick, including another Ryanair service from Malaga, also faced similar challenges and diverted to alternate airports such as Manchester and London Stansted.

The AAIB has confirmed that the incident is classified as serious, given that the aircraft landed below its minimum reserve fuel. Under aviation regulations, aircraft must retain enough fuel to fly for an additional 30 minutes at 1,500 feet upon landing. Pilots are required to declare a fuel emergency if they fall below this threshold, and using the final reserve fuel is strictly prohibited.

The aircraft involved, registered as 9H-QBD, is a ten-year-old Ryanair Boeing 737-800 configured for economy seating. The situation raises serious questions about operational safety and fuel management, especially in adverse weather conditions. As the investigation progresses, more details will emerge regarding the circumstances that led to this critical incident.