Ryanair flight narrowly escapes disaster after touching down with just MINUTES of fuel remaining

It had to change after repeatedly failing to land during Storm Amy last October.

The season's first named storm had brought gale-force winds and heavy rain across Scotland and northern England.

The aircraft made three go-arounds - two at Prestwick and one at Edinburgh - before being forced to divert to Manchester.

The AAIB report said: "Following two windshear escape manoeuvres at Prestwick caused by the presence of Storm Amy, the crew of 9H-QBD asked ATC if they could divert to Manchester."

Crew had chosen Manchester as their preferred alternate because weather conditions there were more favourable.

The AAIB report said: "Although the airport and handling agent policies at Manchester meant that the diversion should have been accepted, a breakdown of communication within the airport led to it being refused.

The jet tried three times in vain to land in Glasgow and Edinburgh before the near-fateful final diversion

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"The aircraft diverted instead to Edinburgh where the crew was required to perform another windshear escape manoeuvre."

After the third windshear warning at Edinburgh, the crew declared a fuel emergency and requested immediate clearance to Manchester.

They issued a mayday call, estimating they would arrive with just 300kg of fuel.

The aircraft landed at 7.52pm with only 363kg of fuel on board - far short of the 1,100kg final reserve requirement.

The Boeing 737-800 was carrying 171 passengers and six crew from Pisa to Glasgow Prestwick - but had to divert to Manchester

AAIB

The AAIB report said: "Both calculations meant that the aircraft would land below the final reserve fuel of 1,100kg, but the commander considered the safest option was to divert to Manchester where the aircraft landed with 363kg."

The report added: "It is unlikely that there would have been sufficient fuel available for another go-around."

The AAIB found that the crew believed a safe landing at Edinburgh could not be guaranteed.

A further go-around would have left them with no remaining diversion options.

The investigation found that the crew had planned cautiously for possible weather disruption, loading more than an hour of extra fuel before departure.

Storm Amy had brought gale-force winds and heavy rain across Scotland and northern England

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Despite this conservative approach, their options narrowed as repeated go-arounds and shifting weather conditions at alternative airports depleted their reserves.

At Prestwick, the crew had held in a pattern after the first windshear warning to wait for conditions to improve.

After watching another Boeing 737-800 land successfully, they tried a second approach but were forced into another go-around by a further windshear alert.

Manchester Airport has since reviewed its diversion policy, confirming that Airfield Control, not handling agents, holds the authority to accept diverted flights.

The report concluded: "The commander considered a diversion to Manchester to be the safest option even though it would inevitably lead to landing below final reserve fuel."