Ryanair flight FR5448, traveling from Seville, Spain, to Nantes, France, on Monday, was forced to divert mid-air due to an unexpected closure of the runway at Nantes Airport. The aircraft, which departed Seville at 5:25 PM local time, was scheduled to arrive in Nantes at 7:10 PM. However, the crew changed course to Brest Bretagne Airport after being informed of the closure.
Details of the Diversion
According to Ryanair, the flight proceeded normally until the crew received notification that the runway at Nantes Airport had closed unexpectedly. The plane then diverted to Brest, where it landed at approximately 8:05 PM after two hours and 40 minutes in the air. The airline stated that the aircraft was given priority handling to ensure a smooth arrival.
Reports initially suggested the flight experienced a fuel emergency, but Ryanair confirmed that fuel levels remained above final reserve fuel and in compliance with all regulatory requirements. A Ryanair spokesperson said: "This flight from Seville to Nantes (6 Jul) diverted to Brest following the unexpected closure of Nantes Airport's runway. As a result of the diversion, the flight crew requested priority handling into Brest to facilitate a timely arrival. The aircraft landed safely with fuel levels remaining above final reserve fuel and in compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements."
Passengers Re-routed
Passengers remained onboard the aircraft during the stop in Brest. The plane then took off again at 11:10 PM local time, heading back to Nantes. The airline confirmed that all passengers were transported to their original destination later that evening.
The incident caused some disruption, but Ryanair emphasized that safety was never compromised. The budget airline continues to operate regular flights between Seville and Nantes.
