Ryanair Flight Diverts to Manchester with Just Six Minutes of Fuel

A Ryanair flight landed safely at Manchester Airport on October 3, 2025, with only six minutes of fuel remaining after diverting from Scotland due to severe weather conditions. The Boeing 737-800, operating as Flight FR3418 and managed by Malta Air, encountered wind speeds of up to 100 miles per hour while attempting to land at both Glasgow Prestwick International Airport and Edinburgh Airport.

Initially scheduled to arrive in Glasgow at 19:00, the flight departed from Pisa over an hour late. As it approached Prestwick, amber wind warnings were issued. According to data from FlightRadar24, the aircraft circled the airport before making two unsuccessful landing attempts. The pilots then redirected the flight to Edinburgh, where another landing attempt failed due to the adverse weather. Faced with dwindling fuel reserves, they decided to divert to Manchester, which was experiencing milder conditions.

Upon approaching Manchester, the pilots issued an emergency call as fuel levels were critically low. The aircraft landed at 20:51 local time with just 220 kilograms of fuel left in the tanks, equivalent to about five or six minutes of flight time. This amount left little room for error, particularly if a go-around had been necessary.

The UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has since opened an investigation into this serious incident. The report indicates that the aircraft landed with significantly less fuel than the minimum required for safe operation. Regulations stipulate that aircraft must have enough fuel to remain airborne for an additional 30 minutes at 1,500 feet upon landing. A pilot quoted by The Guardian stated that this incident was “as close to a fatal accident as possible.”

Passengers aboard the flight recounted a harrowing experience. They faced three aborted landing attempts amid turbulent weather, with many unaware of the critical fuel situation until after they landed. One passenger described the ordeal, stating that they were “buffeted around a lot and jumping” during the strong winds. Their realization of how dire the situation had become came only after images of the remaining fuel circulated online.

After the diversion to Manchester, passengers were transported by bus to Prestwick Airport, arriving approximately ten hours later than originally scheduled. The incident was part of a chaotic evening for air travel in Scotland, as several other flights, including another Ryanair service from Malaga, also attempted to land at Prestwick before ultimately diverting to other airports.

In response to the incident, a Ryanair spokesperson confirmed that the airline has reported the events to the relevant authorities. They noted that due to the ongoing investigation, they are unable to provide further comment at this time.

The aircraft involved in this incident, a Boeing 737-800 registered as 9H-QBD, is ten years old and configured to carry 189 economy class passengers. The incident raises important questions about fuel management and emergency protocols in the aviation industry, especially under adverse weather conditions. As the investigation unfolds, it will likely provide insights into how such incidents can be prevented in the future.