Ryanair Flight FR5448 Declares Fuel Emergency, Diverts to Brest After Nantes Runway Blockage

Crystal Travel | Travel News | 8 July 2026

A Ryanair flight from Seville to Nantes was diverted to Brest Bretagne Airport this evening after a runway blockage at Nantes Atlantique forced the aircraft to abandon its landing and declare an emergency due to low fuel.

Ryanair Flight FR5448 Departs Seville for Nantes

Ryanair flight FR5448, operated by a Boeing 737-800, departed Seville Airport at 17:25 CEST on a scheduled service to Nantes Atlantique Airport in western France. The flight proceeded normally through its climb, cruise, and initial descent, with no issues reported until its final approach into Nantes.

Final Approach to Nantes Aborted Due to Runway Blockage

As the aircraft began its final approach to runway 21 at Nantes, with an expected arrival time of 19:10 CEST, the crew was forced to abandon the landing after a sudden blockage was reported on the runway. The precise nature of the obstruction has not yet been officially confirmed. The aborted approach, known as a go-around, left the flight crew needing to identify an alternative airport at short notice, as a further landing attempt at Nantes was not possible within the aircraft's remaining fuel margins.

Low Fuel Emergency Forces Ryanair Flight to Land in Brest

Fuel Emergency Declared as Aircraft Diverts to Brest Bretagne Airport

With fuel levels becoming a pressing concern following the go-around, the flight crew declared a fuel emergency, a standard aviation procedure that gives air traffic control the authority to prioritise an aircraft for the fastest possible landing. FR5448 was subsequently diverted to Brest Bretagne Airport, located roughly 110 miles west of Nantes. Fuel emergencies of this kind are a recognised safety protocol used by pilots when unexpected delays, such as go-arounds or diversions, reduce the buffer built into a flight's original fuel planning. Declaring one ensures landing priority well before any critical threshold is reached, and does not necessarily mean a flight was in immediate danger.

Nantes Atlantique Airport Faces Wider Disruption

The runway blockage has caused wider disruption at Nantes Atlantique, with air traffic control understood to be diverting other inbound flights to neighbouring regional airports while the issue is addressed. Passengers travelling to Nantes on other services this evening may also face delays or diversions as a result. Further details on the cause of the blockage and on when normal operations will resume at the airport have not yet been confirmed by officials.

Passengers on Diverted Flight to Be Transported to Nantes

Passengers aboard FR5448 will need to be transported from Brest to their original destination of Nantes, either by coach or on a subsequent flight, once the situation at the airport has stabilised. Ryanair has not yet issued a detailed public statement on the incident, and further updates are expected as the airline and airport authorities clarify the full circumstances behind the disruption.

Advice for Passengers Travelling Through Nantes Atlantique Airport

Anyone due to travel through Nantes Atlantique Airport in the coming hours is advised to check their flight status directly with their airline before setting off, as further delays or diversions remain possible while the runway situation is resolved. Passengers already affected by the disruption should watch for updates from Ryanair regarding onward transport arrangements from Brest.

For travellers with upcoming bookings affected by disruption at Nantes or elsewhere, Crystal Travel's expert travel agents are on hand to help manage any changes to flight plans and offer guidance on alternative arrangements.