Fuel emergency - Aisa - Curt Lewis

Incident: China Southern A321 at Phuket and Penang on Apr 3rd 2019, fuel emergency, landed below minimum fuel reserve

A China Southern Airbus A321-200, registration B-6683 performing flight CZ-6063 from Guangzhou (China) to Phuket (Thailand) with 189 people on board, was on final approach to Phuket's runway 27 when the crew needed to go around due to changing winds and an oncoming weather front. The aircraft positioned for another approach to runway 27 but again needed to go around due to weather. The aircraft now positioned for a VOR approach to runway 09, however, again needed to go around due to weather. The crew decided to divert to Penang about 45 minutes after the first go around, the aircraft subsequently climbed to FL250 and diverted to Penang (Malaysia) about 200nm southsoutheast of Phuket. The aircraft was on approach to Penang's runway 04 when the crew needed to go around due to weather, the aircraft entered a hold for about 20 minutes and performed another approach to runway 04, which was continued for a successful landing about 30 minutes after the go around in Penang. Chinese Officials reported the aircraft landed with 900kg of fuel remaining (about 700kg after taxi to the apron), the required minimum fuel reserve (30 minutes) was 1427kg of fuel. The weather at Penang had not been suitable for landing when the aircraft managed to touch down successfully. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 3 hours, then departed Penang and reached Phuket with a delay of 5.5 hours.