NEWCASTLE – A Ryanair flight from Lisbon was forced to declare a mid-air emergency on Thursday evening after heavy winds at Manchester Airport thwarted multiple landing attempts, leading to a low-fuel situation.
Failed Approaches at Manchester
Flight FR2253, operated by a Boeing 737-800 (registration EI-DPJ), departed Lisbon at 15:10 local time. The flight proceeded normally until its arrival in UK airspace, where it encountered challenging weather conditions.
As the aircraft began its approach to Manchester’s Runway 23R, wind gusts reached 32 knots. These crosswinds forced the crew to perform two consecutive “go-arounds” after failing to stabilize the aircraft for a safe touchdown.
Emergency Squawk and Diversion
Following the second aborted landing, the aircraft entered a holding pattern northwest of Manchester at an altitude of 8,000 feet. However, with fuel reserves depleted by the repeated maneuvers and the time spent holding, the crew took the decisive step of declaring an emergency.
The aircraft transmitted a Squawk 7700 code—the international signal for a general emergency—citing a low-fuel state. Air Traffic Control prioritized the flight for an immediate diversion to Newcastle International Airport (NCL).
Safe Landing
The drama concluded approximately 30 minutes later when the aircraft touched down safely on Newcastle’s Runway 25.
