On October 3, 2025, a Ryanair Boeing 737 traveling from Pisa to Prestwick declared a Mayday fuel emergency during the height of Storm Amy. after facing severe windshear and multiple failed landing attempts, the aircraft carrying 177 people diverted to Manchester Airport, landing with significantly less fuel than required safety reserves.
The 92mph winds of Storm Amy and the Prestwick windshear
Severe weather conditions caused by Storm Amy created a high-risk environment for the Ryanair flight departing Pisa International Airport. The aircraft, which was already running 73 minutes behind schedule, encountered surface winds of 33mph and gusts of 52mph near Glasgow. As the crew approached Prestwick Airport, a windshear warning at just 264 feet above the ground forced the pilots to perform an immediate escape manoeuvre.
The storm's impact was widespread, with winds reaching up to 92mph across the United Kingdom. this extreme weather meant that the Ryanair crew had to account for significant turbulence and unpredictable wind shifts throughout the duration of the flight, complicating an already difficult approach to the Scottish coast.
A breakdown in Air Traffic Control and the Manchester diversion delay
Communication failures within Air Traffic Control contributed to the escalating danger for the 171 passengers and six crew members on board. The report states that Manchester Airport initially refused to accept the aircraft's diversion request without providing an explanation.. this forced the pilots to request permission from Edinburgh instead, a decision that took five minutes to process and added further tension to an already low-fuel situation.
Following the incident, Manchester Airport clarified to stakeholders that the decision to accept a diversion rests with the airport's capacity, not with individual handling agents. This clarification comes after the AAIB report highlighted how the initial refusal to accept the Ryanair flight contributed to the crew's mounting fuel concerns.
Landing with only 363kg of fuel against a 1,101kg reserve
The Ryanair Boeing 737 arrived at Manchester Airport at 7 :52pm with a critical fuel level of just 363kg. This amount fell significantly short of the 1,101kg final reserve required for safe operations. According to the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB),the situation was so precarious that the aircraft likely would not have had enough fuel for another go-around attempt if the landing had failed.
The total flight time was extended by one hour and 45 minutes due to the weather and the failed landing attempts. This delay pushed the aircraft to the very edge of its operational limits, leavng the crew with a razor-thin margin for error. After the engines were shut down following the landing, the fuel level dropped even further to 240kg.
Why Newcastle was overlooked during the fuel crisis
The AAIB investigation raised questions about the crew's ability to evaluate all available landing options under extreme stress. While the flight was heading toward Edinburgh, the pilots did not consider diverting to Newcastle, which might have been a closer alternative. The report suggests that the high workload of monitoring wind conditions and preparing for approaches prevented the crew from considering other nearby airports.
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