Ryanair flight FR5448 declared a fuel emergency and diverted to Brest after the runway at Nantes Atlantique Airport was blocked by debris from a departing aircraft's engine failure. The incident occurred on 6 July 2026, causing significant disruption to airport operations.
Flight Details and Initial Incident
The Ryanair flight departed from Seville, Spain, at 5:25pm local time (4:25pm UK time) and was scheduled to land at Nantes at approximately 7:10pm local time. However, as the aircraft began its final descent, the crew was forced to abort the landing due to an obstruction on the runway. A departing aircraft bound for Madrid had suffered an engine failure during takeoff, likely caused by debris from a ruptured tyre. The damaged aircraft returned to land, prompting a runway inspection for debris.
Emergency Declaration and Diversion
The pilots executed a go-around, ascending to 7,000 feet. Air traffic control instructed them to enter a holding pattern at 4,000 feet. As fuel levels dropped due to the extended flight time, the captain formally declared a fuel emergency. The crew climbed to 20,000 feet and received priority routing to Brest airport, where the aircraft landed safely at 8:05pm local time, 2 hours and 40 minutes after departure from Seville.
Airport Chaos and Recovery
The runway disruption at Nantes halted all arrivals and departures for four hours. Specialists examined the tarmac for wreckage until approximately 10:30pm, finding debris on the runway. Air traffic resumed around 11pm local time. Ryanair confirmed in a statement: "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 remained onboard and departed for Nantes at 11:10pm local time.
