UPDATE: A Ryanair flight is under investigation after nearly running out of fuel following three failed landing attempts and a diversion during the severe weather of Storm Amy. Flight 3418, which departed from Pisa, Italy on October 3, was forced to divert to Manchester after encountering dangerous weather conditions over Scotland.
The flight was scheduled to land at Glasgow Prestwick Airport, but due to winds exceeding 50 mph, the pilots aborted their landing attempts. Reports indicate that the aircraft had only 220 kg of fuel remaining—enough for just five to six minutes of flight—when it finally touched down in Manchester around 9 p.m. local time, nearly two hours after the first attempted landing.
Passengers experienced a harrowing journey, arriving at their intended destination over 10 hours late. They were subsequently transported by coach to Prestwick, arriving around 4:15 a.m. the next day. One passenger, Alexander Marchi, expressed the frustration of being stranded over 200 miles from their destination, highlighting the emotional toll of the incident.
The UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch has launched an investigation into this serious incident. In a statement, they confirmed that inspectors are gathering evidence regarding the flight’s circumstances. Ryanair has stated that they reported the incident to authorities immediately and are cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation.
Storm Amy has wreaked havoc across the UK, leading to widespread power outages affecting tens of thousands of homes. Glasgow experienced significant structural damage, including the collapse of a derelict building, as the storm made landfall.
This incident raises serious questions about flight safety protocols during extreme weather conditions. Authorities are urging the public to stay informed as investigations proceed. The aviation community and passengers alike are keenly awaiting further updates on this troubling event.
Stay tuned for more developments on this urgent situation as new information becomes available.
