Tailwinds on approach
I was operating into LEAL that day and I remember there being a few RYR's before/after us, amongst others... Valencia control cleared us for VLC2N, then Alicante approach 'direct Vilna'... then Polop... then Vilna... then hold at Polop... aircraft before us were going around due to tailwinds on both ends.
It was a bit of a shambles and aircraft were all over the place positioning visually and being vectored to each end and going around... we finally made one approach on R28 with a tailwind down to about 50'. All within limits for us but I can understand some aircraft getting worried about fuel levels. We happened to have an extra 1000kg or so and burnt about 600kg more than expected. They had us descending to 6000' in the hold still being number 8 or so... burning fuel like it was out of fashion!
With fuel getting that low a mayday is obviously the way to go to ensure less delays and get on the ground as swiftly and safely as possible.