Have you been on a flight that diverted?

[jb747]

I nearly had a DFW to ANC flight diverted to SEA as all autopilots had been disabled (ironic given I'd departed SEA that morning) but the aircrew managed to manually fly all the way.

Much of the world's airspace is RVSM (reduced vertical separation) and a requirement of that is that the aircraft be flown on autopilot.

 

[serfty]

Much of the world's airspace is RVSM (reduced vertical separation) and a requirement of that is that the aircraft be flown on autopilot.

This was 2006, just after the US RVSM implementation. Moreover, I believe they flew at or around 30000' most of the way; I have vivid memories of West Canadian coastal Glaciers and snow appearing rather 'close' looking from my right-side windows as we flew. It was an ex TWA 757.

 

[Eastwick20]

Back in the 90's when Thai operated BKK/SYD/AKL with their 747 400's I as on the last leg and about 40 minutes out from AKL.
Assuming we would start our decent shortly i felt the aircraft gently bank to right and the moving map showing the aircraft beginning to track south down the coast of the North Island
Captain came on 15 minutes later to say AKL was closed due to fog and we were diverting to CHC instead.
It was fun to see all the Cabin Crew peering out the windows on final approach looking at a destination they normally never go to and much attention from ground crew at CHC at the rare sight of a TG 747 on the apron.

We stayed on board, refuelled and headed to AKL 3 hours later once it opened.

More recently when SYD was down to one runway I was on a VA flight MEL/SYD
We held for a long while and then diverted to CBR for a splash and dash before continuing to SYD.