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.

 

[camperdown9]

Yes but nothing dramatic.

US Airways BOS -LGA 727. There was fog all down the US east coast we were due to leave around 10am but left about 4 hours late, circled over New York then diverted to DCA. After an hour or so they let us of the plane and into the terminal at DCA for a while. Eventually we took of and got to LGA around 9pm.

A few years later we were on a flight from STN to BHD with Ryanair. It started to snow at BHD and they had nothing to clear the runway with so were diverted to BFS.

Alex

 

[Scarlett]

So who are the luckiest people in this thread and who particularly unlucky?

I’ve had 1 diversion from 1171 flights. I think that makes me pretty lucky when reading the other posts.

 

[jb747]

I’ve had 1 diversion from 1171 flights. I think that makes me pretty lucky when reading the other posts.

That’s probably close to the actual diversion rate.

 

[AuSammy]

That’s probably close to the actual diversion rate.

Sounds about right. In just over 50yrs of flying, 1 diversion, 1 u-turn and back to origin, 1 threatened diversion and then changed their mind and we landed at scheduled destination late and a very hairy landing in wind sheer.

 

[serfty]

That’s probably close to the actual diversion rate.

Being such an atypical event, there are wide variances when one may be experinced, or how many.

My first was last December, happening after over 2000 flights when somehow it was decided at DFW to fuel a Qantas 789 bound for MEL by truck. Needless to say, this took so long that the flight ended up at BNE as the crew would have been out of hours continuing to MEL.

 

[747sp]

I have two . The first is back in the early 70s. Were were on a SQ 747 flight from Singapore to Sydney. The original flight path was Singapore, Sydney, Melbourne and return.
We were delayed 6 or 7 hours , in Singapore as they were putting a 5th engine on the plane for repairs in Sydney.
Eventually we took off and were told that the Sydney baggage weight about the same as the engine and had been taken off the plane and would be on a later flight.
When we woke up were then told that the plane was running very late and they had diverted to Melbourne and then back to Sydney. So a diversion and no baggage.

The second was on VH OJA when it was new on a flight from Singapore to London. The Captain told us that he had been advised of extensive delays at heathrow and he was diverting to Copenhargen as we did not have enough fuel for the anticipated delays.
It was to be a splash and dash but unfortunately the delays meant that we could not dash but spent 12 hours on the ground waiting for a replacement crew.

 

[Seat0B]

That’s probably close to the actual diversion rate.

I started flying commercially in 1972 - so in well over 50 years I’ve had only 1 diversion for bad weather. No idea how many flights, but it’s a lot. So I feel pretty lucky.

 

[OZDUCK]

My first flight was in 1975 and I have never had a diversion or turn back in the air. And I have only ever had my bag not appear once - Australian Airlines Per - Cbr but it was delivered later that day.

 

[Brissy1]

Diverted, coincidentally, to my final destination.
Flying BNE-CBR, and the flight was via SYD. Back in the days when coughpit access was relaxed and I was in the jumpseat.
On final into SYD flew into a thunderstorm. Last comms from ATC was Sydney Airport Closed. Noise was incredible. And turbulence...glad I had shoulder straps on. Got a lightening strike and all (yes all!) the instruments went blank, not a word from either pilot but whatever they were thinking is probably not printable. Instruments came back after several seconds. ATC comms was just static. Pilot stated the plan, we'll just fly east out to sea and eventually pop out of it. Which happened and got comms back.
So we diverted to CBR.
The after lightening strike list procedure was just compass check while on runway, with it's known orientation (was B737 or possibly DC9) so we stopped on the runway for a bit.
I thanked the pilot and said I was getting off. He tried reassuring that they're going back to SYD and it'll be fine , don't think he really believed me saying I actually was for CBR.
The amazing thing, my luggage came off at CBR too!

 

[jb747]

Most of my diversions have been within Australia. Flying to Europe for a total of 21 years (i.e. none of my 767 time), and I only ever diverted once. A missed approach at London and then off to Amsterdam. And we got back before the hours ran out. Never diverted in the USA. Only once in Asia, and that was the well known trip to Manila. I dropped both the 747 and 380 into Sydney once or twice (LA to Melbourne). Townsville twice from Tokyo to Brisbane. And a couple of times to Melbourne when Sydney wasn’t available. Of course, we almost went places lots of times, be it for weather or medical, but generally they resolved themselves one way or the other.