Manchester, United Kingdom: A serious aviation incident involving a Ryanair passenger jet that landed with only minutes of fuel remaining in October 2025 is now under investigation by UK aviation authorities.
The incident occurred on October 3, 2025, when Ryanair flight FR3418, a Boeing 737-800 operated by Malta Air, was flying from Pisa, Italy, to Glasgow Prestwick Airport in Scotland. Severe weather linked to Storm Amy forced the aircraft to abandon multiple landing attempts before diverting to Manchester Airport, where it eventually landed safely.
According to flight data and aviation reports, the crew attempted to land twice at Prestwick but aborted both approaches due to strong winds and turbulence. The aircraft then diverted to Edinburgh, where a third landing attempt was also unsuccessful because of continued adverse weather conditions.
With fuel reserves running low after the prolonged flight and repeated go-arounds, the pilots declared a fuel emergency and transmitted the general emergency code “squawk 7700”, signaling a critical situation to air traffic control. The aircraft subsequently diverted again, this time to Manchester, where weather conditions were more favorable.
The Boeing 737-800 landed safely at Manchester after approximately four hours and twenty minutes in the air, almost double the typical flight duration for the route. However, technical records later indicated that the aircraft touched down with about 220 kilograms of fuel remaining, equivalent to roughly five to six minutes of flight time, significantly below the standard regulatory final reserve fuel level.
No injuries were reported among passengers or crew, though several passengers described a tense experience during the repeated landing attempts and diversions amid turbulent conditions.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has opened a formal investigation into the incident to determine the sequence of operational decisions and factors that led to the aircraft reaching such a critically low fuel state. Investigators are examining flight logs, weather conditions and fuel planning procedures.
Ryanair confirmed that the incident was reported to the relevant authorities on the day it occurred and said it is cooperating fully with investigators. Due to the ongoing inquiry, the airline has declined to comment further on the circumstances surrounding the event.
The aircraft involved, registered 9H-QBD, is a Boeing 737-800 manufactured in 2015 and configured to carry up to 189 passengers. Authorities have not yet released preliminary findings, and the AAIB investigation remains ongoing.
