Manchester Airport wrongly refused diversion from Prestwick during Storm Amy, investigation finds

Manchester Airport wrongly refused to let a passenger jet divert there after it twice failed to land at Prestwick during Storm Amy, an official investigation has found.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said the aircraft, registered 9H-QBD, should have been allowed to land at Manchester under the airport's own policies, but a breakdown in communication between its units led to the request being turned down.

The plane, which had been flying from Pisa to Prestwork, was instead diverted to Edinburgh, where it suffered a third aborted landing before the crew declared a mayday and diverted again, this time successfully, to Manchester.

It touched down there with just 363kg of fuel on board, far below the 1,100kg safety reserve pilots are required to keep in hand.

Two failed landings at Prestwick

The disruption began last October when the aircraft encountered windshear on approach to Prestwick, forcing the crew to abandon the landing.

According to the AAIB report, the crew had been warned of possible disruption from Storm Amy through two messages sent the day before the flight and again on the morning of departure.

Extra fuel had been loaded because of forecast winds at the destination, but the amount carried was limited by the expectation that the shorter runway at Prestwick would be needed, providing only around one extra hour of flying time.

After the first windshear escape manoeuvre, the crew held for around 20 minutes to see whether another aircraft of the same type could land safely before attempting a second approach themselves.

That attempt also had to be abandoned after a further windshear encounter.

Diversion request turned down

With a third approach at Prestwick not permitted under the operator's safety rules following two failed landings, the crew asked air traffic control if they could divert to Manchester instead.

The AAIB found that Manchester Airport's own policies, along with those of its handling agent, meant the request should have been accepted.

The exact reason for the refusal was not established, but investigators said it appeared to result from a breakdown in communication between different units within the airport.

The pilots believed their fuel state did not permit them to declare a fuel emergency, which would have secured them permission to head for Manchester.

Instead, they diverted to Edinburgh, basing the decision on a weather report that mentioned earlier go-arounds but did not refer to windshear, and because Glasgow, though closer, was experiencing similar conditions to Prestwick.

Third aborted landing and mayday

At Edinburgh, the crew were forced into a third windshear escape manoeuvre, after which air traffic control turned the aircraft north, expecting another landing attempt.

The pilots were concerned both about their dwindling fuel and the risk of a further windshear encounter if they remained at Edinburgh, fearing they could ultimately be left with no choice but to fly through a windshear warning to land.

Before declaring the fuel emergency, the crew calculated they would arrive in Manchester with between 500kg and 700kg of fuel.

When the figures were entered into the aircraft's flight management system, it predicted an even lower arrival fuel level of 300kg.

Both estimates were below the airline's required final reserve of 1,100kg, but the commander judged diverting to Manchester to be the safest option available.

When a low fuel warning appeared during the flight, the crew had an opportunity to reconsider and return to Edinburgh, which was closer, but chose to continue to Manchester, where the aircraft landed safely with 363kg of fuel remaining.

The AAIB said it was unlikely there would have been enough fuel left for a further go-around had one been needed.

Investigators noted that the crew had regarded Manchester as their preferred alternate airport from the outset of the flight, and that this may have influenced their decision-making.

Manchester Airport responds

Following the incident, Manchester Airport reiterated to stakeholders its policy of accepting diversion requests whenever it has capacity to receive an aircraft.

The airport also confirmed that the decision on whether to accept a diverting aircraft does not rest with its handling agent.

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