A Boeing 737-800 operated by Malta Air, a subsidiary of Ryanair, was forced to divert to three different airports before landing at Manchester with fuel levels significantly below emniyet limits due to Storm Amy. Authorities have launched an investigation into the serious incident which brought the aircraft dangerously close to a total fuel exhaustion.
The flight, FR3418, took place on October 3, 2025, traveling from Pisa, Italy, to Glasgow-Prestwick, Scotland. Upon reaching Scottish airspace, the aircraft, registered as 9H-QBD, encountered severe weather conditions that triggered amber warnings across the region.
Multiple Approach Attempts and Diverts
According to flight data, the crew made two unsuccessful landing attempts at Prestwick before electing to divert to their nominated alternative, Edinburgh Airport. However, extreme winds at Edinburgh forced yet another aborted approach.
With fuel reserves depleting rapidly after three failed attempts and extended holding patterns, the crew abandoned plans to land in Scotland and headed south toward Manchester Airport, where weather conditions were reported to be more favorable.
Six Minutes of Fuel Remaining
On approach to Manchester, the cockpit crew declared a fuel emergency and requested priority landing. The aircraft touched down safely with only 220kg of fuel remaining—100kg in the left tank and 120kg in the right.
Aviation experts noted that this amount provided only about six minutes of flight time, leaving no margin for a further missed approach or go-around. Under standard aviation regulations and Ryanair’s internal emniyet protocols, aircraft are required to land with a minimum reserve sufficient for an additional 30 minutes of flight.
