A Ryanair flight from Pisa to Prestwick declared a fuel emergency after stormy weather forced it to abandon approaches at Prestwick and Edinburgh before diverting to Manchester. The incident matters because the aircraft reached a critically low fuel level, while delays in air traffic control and the crew’s workload contributed to the failure to consider a nearer alternative airport.

The Boeing 737 carried 171 passengers and six crew, and landed in Manchester after four and a half hours with 363kg of fuel remaining—around ten minutes’ flying time. Fuel fell to 240kg after landing, below the required final reserve of 1,101kg; the AAIB said the flight was extended by one hour and 45 minutes and that a breakdown in communications had delayed diversion decisions.