Published 29 August 2026 | Travel Tips

TL;DR: Passengers on Ryanair flight FR8351 from London Stansted to Almeria faced hours of delays, a diversion to Malaga because Almeria Airport had closed, and an onward bus journey that arrived in Almeria shortly before 4.30am. The return flight to London was cancelled.

Passengers face an overnight diversion

A flight that should have taken just over two and a half hours turned into a long overnight journey for passengers travelling from London Stansted to Almeria. Flight FR8351 was delayed on the ground, held on the aircraft for more than three hours, diverted to Malaga and followed by a lengthy bus transfer.

The disruption also affected the return service. The flight scheduled to leave Almeria for London Stansted at 21.10 was cancelled, according to passengers affected by the incident.

Delay before take-off

The flight was due to depart from London at 16.35 local time. Passengers were initially told that departure would be delayed by 30 minutes, moving the expected take-off time to 17.10.

After boarding, the aircraft reached the runway area at around 17.30. The crew then informed passengers that the aircraft could not take off because of thunderstorms and lightning in the area.

Passengers said the aircraft remained on the ground for more than three hours while waiting for clearance to depart. They were also told that air-traffic restrictions were contributing to the delay. The combination of severe weather and restrictions extended the wait well beyond the original schedule.

Late departure from Stansted

The aircraft eventually left London at 21.45 local time. It was due to arrive in Almeria, but the flight took another unexpected turn shortly before landing.

According to the passengers, the crew announced around ten minutes before touchdown that the aircraft would be diverted to Malaga. They were told that Almeria Airport had closed, with the airport’s usual closing time given as 23.00.

The aircraft landed in Malaga at approximately 00.50 Spanish time. For passengers whose destination was Almeria, the flight was therefore only one part of the journey. They still had to travel overland from Malaga to the city.

Bus journey to Almeria

The airline arranged a bus for those who had arrived in Malaga but were originally booked to fly to Almeria. The transfer eventually brought passengers to Almeria bus station shortly before 4.30 in the morning.

That meant a journey planned as a direct evening flight ended with an overnight arrival, several hours after the scheduled landing time. The disruption also left the return service from Almeria to London Stansted cancelled, affecting passengers due to travel in the opposite direction.

The account comes from passengers who described a sequence of delays beginning in London and continuing after the diversion. They said the unusual circumstances created uncertainty during the long wait on the aircraft and after the change of airport.

Passengers raise assistance concerns

Those affected also questioned the assistance provided during the delay. They referred to Article 9 of European Regulation (EC) 261/2004, which they understand requires airlines to offer food and drink once a delay reaches two hours, including when the cause is weather-related.

The passengers said they were not given refreshments during the wait and instead had to pay for their own food and drinks. This is their account of what happened during the disruption; the report does not include a response from the airline.

For travellers using the London-Almeria route, the incident shows how bad weather, air-traffic restrictions and airport operating hours can combine to change an itinerary at short notice. In this case, passengers did not simply face a delayed arrival: they landed at another airport, completed the final part of the journey by bus and saw the scheduled return flight cancelled.

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