A Ryanair flight from Manchester Airport to Agadir in Morocco was in the air for around an hour before the pilot was forced to divert and land the plane after a ‘minor technical issue’ was spotted
A Ryanair plane was surrounded by fire engines after it dramatically returned to Manchester Airport an hour after taking off.
The aircraft, initially en route to Agadir in Morocco, left just before 4pm but unexpectedly changed course shortly after. An issue forced the pilot to reroute north west over Wigan, making nine loops above the area at around just 1,500m above the ground.
It then safely returned to Manchester roughly an hour later, landing at about 5pm with fire crews awaiting its arrival. Now the budget airline has come forward with an explanation following the emergency landing on Sunday, March 16.
Ryanair announced that a ‘minor technical issue’ prompted the unscheduled return, and reassurances have been given that passengers were swiftly transferred onto another plane for their journey.
A spokesperson for the airline confirmed: “This flight from Manchester to Agadir (Sunday, 16 Mar) returned to Manchester shortly after take-off due to a minor technical issue. The aircraft landed normally at Manchester Airport and passengers disembarked.”
The spokesperson also detailed their rapid response to minimise inconvenience: “To minimise disruption to affected passengers, we quickly arranged for a replacement aircraft to operate this flight, which departed to Agadir at 5.05pm local that same day. We sincerely apologise to affected passengers for any inconvenience caused”, reports the Manchester Evening News.
‘Minor technical issues’ usually include faulty seats, entertainment systems, or landing gear malfunctions and can lead to precautionary landings or delays. Pilots will prioritise safety and ensure the aircraft is in a fit condition to fly.
This may mean, like in the case of this Ryanair flight, the pilots choose to land the aircraft at the nearest suitable airport, even if it is not the original destination for the flight. For example, malfunctions with landing gear, such as the inability to extend or retract, are quite common and can necessitate a precautionary landing.
If a flight is delayed due to a technical issues, passengers may have a right to compensation or alternative travel arrangements, depending on the airline’s policies and local regulations.
In December 2024, Air Canada Express Flight 2259 experienced a landing gear issue, after landing at Halifax Stanfield International Airport in Nova Scotia.
According to the airline, no injuries were recorded after the aircraft skidded down the runway for a “decent” distance and passengers saw flames on the aircraft’s left side.
An aircraft can also be forced to land early due to issues with passengers such as an illness or disruptive behaviour. Last week, a Wizz Air flight from Gatwick to Egypt was forced to emergency land in Greece, after a female passenger was being drunk and disorderly.
The unidentified woman, who is believed to be in her late 40s, was travelling with her family from London Gatwick to the Red Sea resort of Hurghada, when she became disruptive. Reportedly, she argued with cabin crew and refused repeated requests to sit down. She also ignored warnings from the captain, before the Airbus A321 was diverted to Athens Airport, where Greek police boarded the aircraft and arrested her.
She now faces fines of up to £15,000.