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United Airlines plane diverted to Goose Bay leaves passengers stuck on board for 16 hours
A United Airlines plane diverted to Goose Bay Airport in Labrador Saturday night resulted in a lengthy stay on the tarmac, according to passengers who were stranded on the aircraft. (cbc.ca) Plus d'info...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
I'm not a pilot but just enjoy aviation and have a question. Was it looking at the flight path and it looks like they looped around to Goose Bay. Guess we don't know the extent of the medical emergency but it seemed like KEF wouldn't have been much further to get to instead of looping around. Iceland has much better medical and airport facilities as well. Granted you don't plan on mechanical issues cause of the cold but the weather was actually much better. What is the procedure in deciding where to go? Thanks
Goose Bay and Gander get their fair share of diversions so it would seem that there should be some sort of plan for this. Question would be who pays for it and how. In the winter it is not likely that anyone will wander off anywhere (check the map, there is not anywhere anywhere close!). I hope the person who was hospitalized is recovering well.
Of course he is going to run the APU for several hours unless an alternate source for heat/ electricity is readily available plus there was plenty of fuel on board! Transporting pax from one plane to another via bus is exactly how security screened pax are handled. It just unfortunate that Goose Bay is not as widely used as Gander, but the real question is why were they on such an easterly route, winds maybe?
I'd think the same. This is a 15-16 hour route, so there would have been an ample amount of food, supplies, lav capacity, and so on. Depending on the level of medical emergency, Goose was likely the best ditch point and if the Captain felt it was best to maintain control, then it is what it is. Nothing like this is ever ideal.
Good day to be holding a Polaris ticket vs. basic economy I suppose.
Good day to be holding a Polaris ticket vs. basic economy I suppose.
I fly this route a lot. Winter is almost always east over Norway and down across Russia/China. Back Japan/Alaska/Canada.
highflyer...I am speaking from my experience working at a major airline..possibly you have experience/knowledge that i do not,but I find it a little rude to "correct" someone,unless they are (as people say) totally out in left field!..have a good day...
Well Mary, sorry if I offended you, thatbwas not the intention, but since I have resided in the left seat for over 30 years I can tell you with authority on how to handle not just 250 but 362 pax who end up somewhere they least expect and in another country! That experience dictates that you maintain heat or cold (environmental) when necessary to keep your pax safe and with lots of water, food and enough fuel to run the APU for a couple of days, and in one place and under your control unless the situation changes. Last time I checked, United did not staff Goose Bay so the Captain bears the responsibility unless otherwise directed by CP or D of Flt Ops.
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