High-stakes emergency landing

Jet2 flight's low fuel emergency landing

In a heart-pounding incident that unfolded last month, Jet2 Flight LS189, departing from Glasgow, Scotland, on August 27, found itself in a perilous situation when it was forced to make an emergency landing due to rapidly depleting fuel reserves.

Unexpected storms and emergency mayday call

With nearly 200 passengers on board, this dramatic incident occurred during what should have been a routine two-and-a-half-hour flight to the sunny shores of Palma De Mallorca. However, unexpected storms over Mallorca diverted the aircraft, ordering it into a holding pattern above the Pyrenees at 35,000 feet.

As the delays persisted, the pilots made a mayday call, fearing they would land with dangerously low fuel levels. The flight ultimately reached Mallorca after three hours and 26 minutes, carrying less than 39 kilograms of their final reserve fuel. Final reserve fuel is the absolute minimum amount a plane needs to safely stay in the air. A situation that has sparked a comprehensive investigation by Spanish authorities.

Passenger safety was never compromised

In a statement following the incident, Acting Minister of Transport, Mobility, and Urban Agenda, Raquel Sánchez Jiménez, assured the public that there were no injuries and the aircraft remained undamaged.

Jet2, on the other hand, responded to the situation by explaining that the flight did not run out of fuel and that passenger safety was never compromised. The airline cited severe weather conditions affecting Palma Airport on that fateful day, leading to extended holding patterns for multiple flights.

As a precautionary measure, Jet2's experienced crew requested a priority landing when they believed the aircraft might land with less fuel than reserve amounts. Jet2 pledged full cooperation with both the authorities' investigation and their internal inquiry into the incident, emphasising their unwavering commitment to passenger safety.