VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta Air flight FR 3418 from Pisa to Prestwick landed at Manchester with just six minutes of fuel remaining after a series of windshear warnings and a diversion communication failure.
A report published by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch concluded that the Malta Air Boeing 737-800 Flight FR 3418 had only six minutes’ worth of fuel left when it eventually landed at Manchester airport after crew issued a fuel mayday call.
The Boeing 737-800 was carrying 171 people when it departed Pisa International Airport at 3.28pm on October 3 last year.
The flight abandoned two landing attempts because of severe weather and windshear warnings before requesting to divert to Manchester. The request was initially refused because the airport was reportedly “too busy”.
The aircraft then diverted towards Edinburgh, where the crew encountered a third windshear event and issued a fuel mayday call.
According to an Air Accidents Investigation Branch report, the aircraft eventually landed at Manchester at 7.52pm with 363kg of fuel remaining, equivalent to less than six minutes of flying time.
The aircraft’s required final fuel reserve was 1,100kg.
Investigators said it was unlikely there would have been enough fuel for another go-around had one been required.
The AAIB found that the refusal of the initial diversion request appeared to have resulted from a breakdown in communication within Manchester Airport.
Following the incident, Manchester Airport reviewed its procedures and reiterated that diversion requests should be accepted when the airport has capacity.
– photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
