Ryanair to be investigated following low fuel emergency landings

SPAIN'S ministry of public works has opened an inquiry after three Ryanair flights had to make an emergency landing in Valencia after running low on fuel.

The Air Safety Agency - part of the ministry - is investigating the low-cost airline to ascertain whether its policy of carrying only the minimum amount of fuel necessary for each journey is in breach of security regulations.

It is attempting to find out 'the liabilities that Ryanair could have incurred' as a result of the emergency landings.

The three planes were due to land at Madrid's Barajas airport on July 26, but had to be diverted to Valencia due to an electric storm.

Whilst in the queue for the landing slot, the first of the three crafts sent out a clear 'mayday' to the control tower, allowing it to be pushed to the front and given priority to touch down.

The other two followed suit.

A spokesperson from the Irish low-cost airline explained that only the absolute minimum of fuel required to cover each journey is placed in the tank - not a drop more.

This means that in the event of diversions, bad weather or other technical problems that lead to the craft covering a greater distance than planned, it will not have enough fuel to make the journey.

Pilots working for Ryanair are under strict instructions to put no more than the minimum amount of fuel necessary for the journey in the tank, and any quantity above this has to be justified in writing.

According to the captain of Ryanair's base at Stansted - number two on the management team - Shane McKeon: "There are still a small number of pilots who seem to have a problem with company procedures.

"Some of the explanations given by pilots for filling up with excessive fuel are unacceptable," stated McKeon.

"The most unreasonable excuse of all is that they like to land with three tonnes of fuel.

"This is not Ryanair's company policy; it is totally unacceptable and it is not what they are paid to do," concludes McKeon.