Emergency Landing: Boeing 737 Faces Fuel Shortage During Storm Gerrit
In December 2023, a Boeing 737 with 300 passengers onboard was compelled to declare an emergency amid Storm Gerrit as its fuel levels dropped below the legal limits.
The Tui flight, which had departed from Cancun, Mexico, was en route to Manchester Airport but was diverted to East Midlands Airport due to adverse weather conditions. Subsequently, it had to divert once more to Birmingham Airport, where it joined a queue of seven other aircraft awaiting landing clearance.
An investigation report released by the AAIB in mid-February revealed that by the time the aircraft safely landed, it had only 1.2 tonnes of kerosene remaining in its tanks, falling short of the legal minimum of 1.9 tonnes.
Brian Smith, a commercial pilot with extensive experience flying Boeing airplanes, described the situation as one of the greatest fears for pilots.
“Besides dealing with a hijacker or terrorist, there are three scenarios that induce adrenaline in the cockpit: an uncontrollable fire, severe weather, and running out of fuel,” Smith commented.
How Much Extra Fuel Do Planes Carry?
Airlines provide crews with a detailed “flight plan” for each journey, covering the route, aircraft weight, payload, and weather conditions at the destination and along the flight path, as reported by Yahoo News.
“Critically, the plan outlines the amount of fuel required for the flight. However, it is the pilot’s responsibility to ensure sufficient fuel is available for all potential contingencies,” Smith explained.
A fully loaded Boeing 747 can carry up to 170 tonnes of fuel. According to Smith, the calculations are generally quite precise, allowing pilots the authority to add extra fuel depending on weather conditions and any possible delays at the airport caused by factors such as the arrival of VIPs.
The required alternate fuel allows for flying to a designated alternate airport in case of an emergency, including a “final reserve” that provides enough fuel to circle an airport for 30 minutes. This amount is crucial, and low fuel levels can create significant tension in the cockpit.
How Do Pilots Communicate During a Fuel Emergency?
In emergencies related to fuel, the crew must declare a “FUEL MAYDAY” to secure immediate landing priority.
How Often Do Planes Run Out of Fuel?
“Planes do run out of fuel, but fortunately, these incidents are rare. Two of the most infamous examples are the ‘Gimli Glider’—Air Canada Flight 143 in July 1983—and the ‘Azores Glider’—Air Transat Flight 236 in August 2001,” Smith noted.
“The first case was attributed to human error during refueling, compounded by technical issues and inadequate airline protocols, while the pilot successfully landed the 767 on an unused runway,” he said.
“Air Transat 236 ran low on fuel over the Atlantic because of a fuel leak, with the pilot landing at Lajes in the Azores. Fortunately, both incidents had happy endings, with all passengers surviving,” he continued.
Deciding Where to Land When Fuel is Critical
In situations where engines cannot be restarted due to fuel exhaustion, immediate diversion to a suitable runway is the pilots’ only option.
Inside the cabin, the sudden silence following engine failure would be alarming.
“When engine power is lost, cabin lights may dim or go out completely. Flight instruments will typically be limited to the captain’s side and functional for only a brief period, usually about 30 minutes,” Smith explained.
