Ryanair flight declared emergency Mayday after coming within TEN minutes of running out of fuel during storm

A Ryanair flight declared an emergency Mayday after coming within 10 minutes of running out of fuel during a storm.The Boeing 737 from Pisa was supposed to land at Prestwick Airport near Glasgow on October 3, 2025, but was forced to divert to Manchester after two failed attempts and another in Edinburgh.As it headed towards the back-up destination, the plane's predictor system calculated the tank had just 300kg of fuel remaining - significantly below the final fuel reserve of 1,101kg.A 'MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY FUEL' declaration was issued, with pilots running out of time and contending with the wet and windy conditions caused by Storm Amy.When it finally arrived in Manchester after four-and-a-half hours in the air, an alternative landing would likely have been impossible.An Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) report has now concluded that the stress of the situation meant pilots did not consider diverting to a nearer airport such as Newcastle.A 'breakdown in communications' within Air Traffic Control that evening also delayed the decision to divert the plane, which was carrying 171 passengers and six crew members, the report added.The journey started off innocuously, departing Pisa International Airport at 3.28pm - an hour and 13 minutes after its scheduled departure time. A Ryanair flight headed from Pisa to Glasgow declared a Mayday signal after coming within 10 minutes of running out of fuel during a storm - before diverting to Manchester (Stock Photo)The operator had issued a storm pack with information about the potential impact of the forecast weather a day prior, and there were email reminders sent out on the day. Extra fuel was brought along as crew members anticipated they would need to use the shorter of Prestwick's two runways, with the longer one worse affected by high winds.Manchester Airport was agreed as an appropriate back-up destination ahead of departure, with Storm Amy bringing surface winds of 33mph and 52mph gusts to Glasgow.The major cyclone battered the UK that week with winds of up to 92mph, several weather fronts and prolonged rainfall.Both pilots commented on the turbulence as they approached Prestwick and, just 264ft above the ground, a windshear warning was triggered with a two-tone siren and an urgent voice message.They carried out an escape manoeuvre and held the plane over the airport in gusty conditions.The pilots requested another approach and were informed that 'in case of missed approach again, we go straight forward to Manchester'.During the next attempt, the pilots reported the conditions felt less turbulent but another windshear was triggered and they aborted once more.As they waited in the air, they were told that Manchester was unable to accept their diversion request but no explanation was given.They then requested a diversion to Edinburgh which was accepted after five minutes. In the meantime, the pilots discussed declaring a 'Mayday' announcement to go to Manchester, but agreed their current situation did not meet the emergency threshold.As they pressed on to Edinburgh, the pair became increasingly concerned about fuel levels - fears which grew after they were forced to abandon an attempted landing at the Scottish capital.The commander decided to divert to Manchester with the aircraft 700kg of fuel beneath the required amount to land within the final fuel reserve.A Mayday declaration was made and there was no consideration of landing at a nearer airport, such as Newcastle.The plane eventually landed in Manchester at 7.52pm with 363kg of fuel remaining - around 10 minutes of flight time.Their fuel plummeted to just 240kg once the plane had taxied and the engines had been shut down.In total, the flight had lasted an extra hour and 45 minutes, putting it on the brink of running out of fuel.An AAIB report concluded: 'The crew found the transit to Manchester stressful, given the low fuel situation, and considered they had a high workload. A car is damaged after a building collapsed in Glasgow amid Storm Amy winds on October 4, the morning after the flight was diverted'They were focused on preparing for the approach and monitoring the wind conditions and, once en route, did not consider returning to Edinburgh or diverting to a closer alternate airport such as Newcastle Airport.'In the event, the aircraft continued to Manchester where it landed safely, but it is unlikely that there would have been sufficient fuel available for another go-around.'The crew had considered Manchester to be their preferred alternate airport from the outset and it is possible that this influenced their decision-making.'Following this serious incident, Manchester Airport reiterated to stakeholders its policy of accepting diversion requests if the airport has the capacity to receive the aircraft and that the decision on accepting the diversion does not rest with the handling agent.'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.'The aircraft diverted instead to Edinburgh where the crew was required to perform another windshear escape manoeuvre.'