Travel Technology - Flight path question

I was on this flight today-

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/FLG3364/history/20120719/1810Z/KMSP/KDSM

and it looks like we went WAY out of the way to get to DSM. Normally it's a straight up and down shot, but for some reason we had to fly over LaCrosse to get to Des Moines. I know Flightaware puts the radar on the map at the time of the flight so if there were storms to fly around, I'd understand.

This just looks like the pilots thought we were going somewhere else and then were reminded they had to go to DSM!

Any ideas as to why this would happen?

Please follow this thread in the Travel Technology Forum.
Thanks...
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

It looks like the flight plan was filed for this route so it was deliberate. Very possible that there was some sort of airspace restriction in force at the time (military training, etc.) that resulted in the fairly long detour.

It looks like the flight plan was filed for this route so it was deliberate. Very possible that there was some sort of airspace restriction in force at the time (military training, etc.) that resulted in the fairly long detour.

Thanks for the information. Very strange. I know the Iowa Air National Guard does a lot of drills out of DSM, but there have been times when we have taken off right after/before the fighter jets take off/land.

Thanks for the information. Very strange. I know the Iowa Air National Guard does a lot of drills out of DSM, but there have been times when we have taken off right after/before the fighter jets take off/land.

They're not blasting around with afterburners on doing crazy maneuvers when they're taking off and landing.

Tom Cruise never asks for clearance in Top Gun; air traffic control just keeps everyone not part of the exercise out of the way.