B737 Lands With Just 6 Minutes of Fuel After Multiple Weather Diversions

A Ryanair Boeing 737-800 touched down in Manchester with just 6 minutes of fuel left in its tanks after strong winds forced it to change course multiple times. Passengers waited through 3 failed landing attempts, a nearly 200-mile diversion, and 10 hours of extra travel time before finally reaching their destination.

The flight, FR3418 from Pisa to Glasgow Prestwick, was carrying 189 passengers. It departed late and entered worsening weather conditions over Scotland before making two approaches at Prestwick, which were thwarted by severe turbulence and crosswinds. The crew then chose to divert east to Edinburgh. That attempt also failed, with the aircraft descending below 2,000 feet before the pilots elected to move on once again. The plane turned south to Manchester, nearly 200 miles away, where conditions were marginally calmer.

By the time the 737 neared Manchester airspace, the crew had already declared a fuel emergency. According to the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), the jet landed at 20:51 local time with only 220 kilograms of fuel remaining… roughly enough for five or six minutes of flight, and certainly not enough for any more go-arounds.

Passengers on board endured what was effectively an airborne tour of the British Isles. After hours in the air and multiple aborted landings, they finally landed in Manchester nearly two hours late. They then reportedly faced another four-hour coach ride north, reaching Glasgow in the early hours of the morning, ten hours behind schedule and several nerves lighter.

FR3418 wasn’t alone. Storm Amy’s 50-mph gusts caused widespread disruption across Scotland that evening, toppling trees, cutting power to thousands, and forcing numerous flights to divert. FR3418’s ordeal merely stands out for how narrowly it avoided becoming a more serious headline.

The AAIB has classified the event as a “serious incident,” opening a formal probe into fuel management and decision-making during adverse weather diversions.

"Ryanair reported this to the relevant authorities,” the airline said. “As this is now subject of an ongoing investigation, which we are cooperating fully with, we are unable to comment."

FMI: www.ryanair.com