What happened
On July 17, 2004, a Martinair Airbus A320-232, registration PH-MPF, was operating a scheduled passenger flight from Shannon, Ireland, to Amsterdam, Netherlands. While the initial weather forecasts for both the destination and the planned alternate airport in Rotterdam appeared favorable, the flight encountered severe weather during the approach phase.
As the aircraft approached Amsterdam, intense thunderstorms were active, leading to the closure of both the airport and the Amsterdam Terminal Control Area. The crew subsequently attempted to divert to Rotterdam, but encountered similar heavy weather conditions there. This necessitated a second diversion to Bremen, Germany. During the final stages of the flight to Bremen, the captain determined that the remaining fuel might drop below the required 30-minute final reserve. Consequently, the crew declared a low fuel emergency to air traffic control to secure landing priority. The aircraft landed safely in Bremen with 1,100 kg of fuel remaining.
The investigation
The investigation, conducted by the Dutch Safety Board at the request of German authorities, examined the fuel planning and weather assessment processes. The aircraft had departed Shannon with 5,600 kg of fuel, including 1,048 kg of final reserve fuel. The investigation noted that while the flight plan met all legal requirements, the weather forecasts used during the planning phase did not account for the rapid deterioration of conditions caused by heavy showers and wind gusts.
Findings
- The primary factor contributing to the emergency was a rapidly changing weather situation that was not predicted by meteorologists or anticipated by the flight crew.
- While the fuel carried met legal minimums, the decision to depart without extra fuel was risky given the potential for delays or weather-related diversions at the destination and alternate airports.
- The crew successfully managed the situation by recognizing the fuel depletion risk early and communicating with air traffic control to ensure a timely landing.
Safety action
- The investigation highlighted that fuel planning should consider more than just legal minimums; taking extra fuel is a prudent measure when facing unpredictable weather or potential congestion at alternate airports.