Albuquerque-bound Delta plane rerouted to Farmington after runway issue
Posted by Shoddy_Act7059@reddit | aviation | View on Reddit | 9 comments
"Delta said the flight had planned to land in Albuquerque but changed course because a disabled aircraft was on the runway at the Sunport...Delta said the disabled aircraft was not theirs."
jwink3101@reddit
Does anyone know why they went to to Farmington rather than Double Eagle just a few miles from ABQ and with a longer runway. Was it just that Double Eagle is GA only so there was no Delta presence?
MaverickTTT@reddit
One is in their OpSpec C070. Guessing the other is not.
FlightFramed@reddit
I live in NM and had seen this on the news, the Double Eagle question didn't really cross my mind. I was more surprised Farmington could accommodate a 737
Mauro_Ranallo@reddit
FMN does have scheduled service by United Express, it looks like. Might be easier to be turned around there. But beyond that it's fairly likely Double Eagle simply isn't one of their approved alternates and they would have had to declare emergency to go there.
anonymous4071@reddit
You wouldn’t want to divert to an airport without an airline presence unless it was a dire emergency. Gathering the resources to service the airplane and help passengers would be incredibly difficult, so if there’s a suitable airport with existing airline service, especially if your airline serves it, that is often ideal.
Shoddy_Act7059@reddit (OP)
Found this from a simpleflying article:
Passenger accounts and airport statements later revealed that a general aviation aircraft had reportedly lost a wheel after takeoff or landing, forcing the closure of Runway 8-26 while crews cleared the area. Although the closure reportedly lasted only around 15 minutes, it was enough to force the inbound Delta flight to abandon its approach and head north to Farmington instead."
Link: https://simpleflying.com/delta-air-lines-flight-diverts-disabled-plane-occupies-albuquerque-runway/
Mauro_Ranallo@reddit
Probably didn't have an alternate airport planned since ABQ usually has good weather barring monsoon season. That's why we have reserve fuel, kids!
Shoddy_Act7059@reddit (OP)
"That's why we have reserve fuel, kids!"
Yep, exactly.
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