The U.K. Air Accidents Investigation Branch has launched an inquiry after a Ryanair flight that left Pisa on Oct. 3, 2025, diverted multiple times and landed in Manchester with about 220 kg of fuel remaining (roughly six minutes). The aircraft attempted two approaches at Glasgow Prestwick and one at Edinburgh before diverting to Manchester, and the crew declared an emergency while squawking 7700. Storm Amy’s strong winds and heavy rain affected the flight. The AAIB will examine flight data, crew decisions and weather impacts as part of the probe.
Ryanair Flight Diverts Three Times, Lands in Manchester With Only Six Minutes of Fuel — UK Safety Probe Opened
Credit: Getty
The U.K. Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has opened a formal inquiry after a Ryanair flight from Pisa diverted several times and landed in Manchester with roughly 220 kg of fuel remaining — about six minutes of flying time — following multiple aborted approaches on Oct. 3, 2025.
Credit: Giannis Alexopoulos/NurPhoto via Getty
What Happened
The flight departed Pisa’s Galileo Galilei International Airport on schedule at 4:15 p.m. CEST. According to public flight-tracking logs, the aircraft attempted two approaches at Glasgow Prestwick Airport, then made an additional approach at Edinburgh, before finally diverting to and landing at Manchester Airport. During the sequence of diversions and approaches the crew declared an emergency and the aircraft was recorded as squawking 7700, the standard transponder code for a general emergency.
Credit: Markus von Luecken / Getty Images
Weather and Fuel
Storm Amy (previously Hurricane Humberto) brought heavy rain and strong winds that affected the flight during the diversion attempts. Manchester Evening News reported the aircraft had about 220 kg of fuel left on landing — commonly cited as roughly six minutes of flight time, depending on aircraft type and configuration.
Credit: Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty
Passengers' Accounts
“The three failed landings were like something you’d watch in a disaster movie,” an unnamed passenger told the Daily Mail. “People were praying and my son was crying. I remember thinking, ‘Is this it?’”
Alexander Marchi, a passenger from Ayrshire, told the Ayr Advertiser: “We realized how bad things had been after seeing the images after finally landing at Manchester with almost no fuel. There was a lot of relief. The staff were brilliant.”
Investigation Underway
The AAIB will review flight data, crew decisions, fuel calculations and the impact of weather on the diversions and approaches. Officials typically examine recorded flight data, air traffic control communications, and crew actions to establish the full sequence of events and whether operational procedures were followed. Ryanair did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Note: The inquiry is ongoing; details may be updated as investigators analyze flight and operational records.
Help us improve.
