Last October, as Storm Amy battered Scotland, a Ryanair flight (operated by Malta Air) fought wind shear at both Prestwick and Edinburgh before finally diverting to Manchester after declaring an emergency. A new AAIB report details just how little fuel remained inside the aircraft after landing and how better communication at Manchester Airport could have averted the dire situation.
Flight FR3418 was operating from Pisa to Prestwick, operated by a Malta Air 737-800, registration 9H-QBD. The flight approached Prestwick as Storm Amy was passing through Scotland, bringing strong gusting winds. At Prestwick, the crew experienced wind shear alerts and conducted two wind shear escape maneuvers.
According the AAIB, after the second go-around, the crew requested to divert to Manchester, but were refused. Per the AAIB, “although the reason for the refusal was not established, it appeared to have resulted from a breakdown in communication between units within Manchester Airport. According to the airport and handling agent’s policies, the diversion request should have been accepted.” The declaration of a fuel emergency at that time would have permitted the crew to divert to Manchester, but they did not feel that their situation met the requirements to do so.
The aircraft then proceeded to Edinburgh, where an attempt to land was also thwarted by windshear. The crew then began setting up for a second approach, but after reviewing the company manual and the remaining fuel on board, the crew elected to declare an emergency and divert to Manchester.
Final reserve fuel for this aircraft is mandated at 1,100 kg, the flight landed with just 363 kg of fuel remaining.
Read the report for a full discussion of the communications breakdown at Manchester Airport and the crew’s decision making process.
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