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Delta 767 Diversion Leaves Passengers on a Remote Aleutian Island on Christmas Eve
Passengers aboard DAL128, from Beijing (PEK/ZBAA) to Seattle (SEA/KSEA) had a wrench thrown into their Christmas Eve travel when a suspected mechanical problem forced their plane off course on Monday. The B767 made an unexpected stop on the remote island of Shemya in the Aleutian Islands on Christmas Eve. The diversion was caused by what is being reported as “potential engine issue.” (www.msn.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
Safety first.... To hell with the passengers... I guess the complaining passengers would like to be in the Head Lines of the next "Air Disaster" episode... Pilot did what was right... Planes break, and usually not when or where we want them to.
It's not like they had a choice in the matter. But they weren't stranded. Delta sent another aircraft to pick up the passengers in Shemya and take them the rest of the way to Seattle. It arrived mid-day and headed toward Seattle around 4 p.m
Imagine being the Delta reserve crew and getting that phone call: "We have to deadhead a 767 where?"
Or being the mechanics that are tasked with fixing the engine in the middle of nowhere. Check out Shemya on Google Earth — they don’t have a hangar big enough to accommodate a 767, so you get to troubleshoot and fix the engine out in the open during the Alaskan winter.
https://www.google.com/maps/@52.7229455,174.1058839,13z/data=!3m1!1e3
https://www.google.com/maps/@52.7229455,174.1058839,13z/data=!3m1!1e3
Looks like a treeless, windswept plateau. The mechanics deserve a big bonus to work under these conditions.
Yeah, a buddy who was stationed there said "there was a woman behind every tree."
LOL... They will get Overtime.... That is about it...
Eareckson Air Station has a 10,000ft airstrip. It was originally fitted for B29's, B25's and later for large jets. Back when it was Shemya AFB, Northwest Airlines at its "layover" facility near the runway. They have five hardened buildings there. One is big enough.
Yeah.. it was either going to be PASY, or Cold Bay and its 10100ft runway, which was another 950nm. They made the right call for this one. The weather around the time of this incident was brutal:
PASY 250923Z AUTO 11023G27KT 7SM -PL FEW012 SCT025 OVC036 02/M01 A2973 RMK AO2 SLP071 FZRANO $
When you have gusts coming from the east, snow on the way but getting ice pellets dropped on you at nearly 32F, and you're outside having to fix an engine, you're in for a rough day at the office!
PASY 250923Z AUTO 11023G27KT 7SM -PL FEW012 SCT025 OVC036 02/M01 A2973 RMK AO2 SLP071 FZRANO $
When you have gusts coming from the east, snow on the way but getting ice pellets dropped on you at nearly 32F, and you're outside having to fix an engine, you're in for a rough day at the office!
I don't see them fitting a 767 into the hangars there.
https://www.briceenvironmental.com/wp-content/uploads/SHEMYA-ROOF-06-1200x676_c.jpg
(The picture is from a contractor who repaired storm damage)
https://www.briceenvironmental.com/wp-content/uploads/SHEMYA-ROOF-06-1200x676_c.jpg
(The picture is from a contractor who repaired storm damage)