UK Ryanair flight makes emergency touchdown however pilots slammed for harmful actions
A Ryanair flight from Venice to Manchester was forced to make an emergency diversion to Stansted due to a fuel leak from the right engine, with fire crews surrounding the plane on the runway
Ryanair have issued a plea to their passengers(Image: Massimo Insabato/Archivio Massimo Insabato/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images)
A Ryanair flight from Venice to Manchester was forced to make an emergency diversion to London Stansted due to a fuel leak, which posed a significant risk of fire. The incident, which occurred on April 25 last year, has been investigated by the Air Accident Investigations Branch (AAIB).
The report, published today (April 9), reveals that the Boeing 737 Max aircraft suffered a fuel leak from the right engine, prompting the pilots to divert to London Stansted at around 1 pm.
Upon landing, the plane was met by fire crews, who discovered evidence of a fuel leak from the right engine. The investigation found that the pilots were slow to recognise the possibility of a fuel leak, which further increased the risk of a fire, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Moreover, the pilots’ use of thrust reversers to slow down the plane during landing, without shutting off the right engine, dispersed spilling fuel around hot engine components, heightening the risk of a fire.
The AAIB report highlights the seriousness of the incident, which could have had catastrophic consequences if not addressed promptly. The investigation’s findings serve as a reminder of the importance of swift and effective decision-making in emergency situations.
The Ryanair flight had initially been delayed by one hour due to a technical issue with the airline’s computer system. It was during this time that the pilots noticed a discrepancy in the fuel levels between the main tanks. A fuel rebalancing procedure was carried out, as stated in the report.
However, once the aircraft reached its cruising altitude of 38,000 feet, the captain noticed that the fuel imbalance was recurring, prompting continued cross-feeding of fuel into the affected right engine.
Approximately 20 minutes later, the pilots observed that the right fuel tank was again low, with a discrepancy of around 100kg every 10 minutes, indicating a fuel leak.
The flight, carrying 191 passengers, was subsequently diverted to Stansted Airport. According to the report, the pilots opted not to shut down the affected engine due to favourable weather conditions and the relatively short 20-minute diversion.
The pilots successfully landed the plane without incident or damage. However, the AAIB’s report highlighted that adhering to the emergency procedure would have advised them to shut off the engine to mitigate the risk of a fire.
The report noted: “In completing fuel balancing from memory, the pilots did not consider the possibility of a fuel leak, delaying diagnosis of the problem.
“Once the leak was confirmed, they decided not to fully complete the non-normal checklist, which directed them to shut down the affected engine.” The use of thrust reverse upon landing heightened the potential risk of fire as it caused fuel vapour to spread around the engine’s hot components.
In a statement to MyLondon, Ryanair acknowledged that it had ‘fully participated’ in the investigation, which ultimately found no safety recommendations for the airline.”
