A passenger plane carrying 300 people faced a critical fuel shortage but was forced to wait while another aircraft was given landing priority, according to a report by the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB).
The TUI Boeing 787 was originally supposed to land in Manchester but was diverted due to strong winds. After waiting in a holding pattern with several other planes, it attempted to divert to East Midlands Airport, only to be turned away due to lack of space. It was then sent to Birmingham Airport, where its first landing attempt was aborted because of a windshear warning from onboard equipment.
Despite the plane declaring a fuel emergency—issuing a “Mayday” call—another aircraft was allowed to land first, adding an extra 28 miles to its journey. By the time it finally touched down, it had only 1,250kg of fuel left, significantly below the recommended minimum of 1,900kg.
All 291 passengers and 10 crew members landed safely.
Following the incident, East Midlands Airport reviewed its procedures to improve communication about its ability to accept diverted flights. Birmingham Airport also issued a safety bulletin emphasizing the importance of prioritizing aircraft in emergencies. The AAIB concluded that measures have been taken to improve airport coordination and emergency response protocols.
