davedimes

I was on a DL ATL-NRT a few years ago that was diverted to ANC not for one pax knocking another out but one trying to knock another one up.

We spent a few hours on the ground (stuck in the plane) but continued to NRT where they had held connections for most INTL pax.

soxfanndc

I was on this flight (and just arrived in Shanghai) and I had a different understanding of events. It was not that two pax were duke-ing it out (as I was talking to the purser) but it seems an older gent had fallen into a diabetic coma and was violent and combative towards his wife so the flight crew restrained him in an effort to treat him. there were a number of medical personnel on board (I heard one comment that "there are more doctors on this plane then passengers) and the guy in front of me in BE actually stepped in for a bit. I think the way that the OP stated it may lead some to think that two pax were brawling it out and I'm not sure that's an accurate portrayal but it is true that the guys did become combative. I agree, the flight crew and DL and the Hilton all handled this incident w/ aplomb and professionalism. As we queued up this a.m to re-board the flight, there was talk that that offending pax was going to be onboard but the flight crew told me he had been "accommodated on another airline."

this whole incident must've cost DL a pretty penny: we dumped fuel before landing in ANC, hotel rooms for all the pax, cancelled flight from this aircraft not arriving in time in PVG, dinner and then breakfast in ANC for everyone. Wow.

anbhc

Thanks for the updates on the events that transpired. I posted what I had heard from someone else onboard, however I did see the older gentlemen that was in the coma led off the plane first with the IV still in and his hands tied behind his back, but then I saw another man led off clearly with his hands handcuffed behind his back, and then presumably the families of the 2 guys led off next. Many passengers had their cameras out trying to take photos of the events.

The next day we were unable to use the kiosks to check in for the flight and had to queue up at the ticket counter, but we all got our original seats back.

While waiting to board the gate agent announced Business class passengers first, followed by Sky Priority members, but everyone queued the line, and she gave up and said "Everyone can now board"

I agree Hilton and Delta handled this event quite well.

Chazpilot

Hi,

I was the original poster on Airliners.net which the author of this forum posting used. Airliners removed my posting because it wasn't in the right category :-(. Anyways, the explanation regarding the second guy who was led off the plane in cuffs upon arrival in ANC is that he was an illegal (either no visa, overstayed a visa, or misused a visa) in the States and had been deported back in Detroit. With the unplanned landing in ANC, thus making the flight an unscheduled domestic arrival, the Immigration officers had to come on board to personally escort him off and presumably put him up on a holding area for the night to ensure he wouldn't run off like he might have with the brief window of freedom at the Hilton! I say brief as he wouldn't have exactly thrived in the wilderness of Alaska! That's why he was escorted back on the plane the following AM. He had nothing to do with the unruly pax (medical emergency) guy who caused the diversion. As for the original instigator of the event, he was actually sitting at breakfast at the Hilton the following AM AND seen in the departure hall back at ANC, causing a lot of murmuring among us other pax whether it was appropriate for him to be able to go about his business as if nothing had happened. In the end he was not boarded on the onwards flight and presumably Delta made other arrangements for him (I'm guessing they flew him down to SEA and put him on their direct back to PVG from there.) No idea what repercussions he faced, but whatever his medical emergency was it seems it was all set off by the fact that he'd decided to fall off the wagon (been 2 weeks dry before the day) on our flight. So I trust he's been banned from Delta and hopefully his visa was cancel WITH prejudice. Sorry, but I'm sure that's what any foreigner in China would face if the reverse situation occurred. Oh, and that illegal who was deported (twice) had the local authorities waiting for him upon finally arriving in PVG - I saw a couple officers holding a print out with his photo on it.

MonThruThurs

Wow - with the 3 different accounts of the incident somewhat tying together, it's providing a little more entertainment than Game of Thrones tonight.

DUT

DAL 583 diverted to Anchorage again last night, Sunday May 1st, 2016. Was on the ground for a couple hours, then departed for Asia...

Anybody know why?

I was out biking and saw the Delta passenger 747 land. No camera with me, sorry no pics. But kinda cool to see a Delta 747 in Anchorage!

jdrtravel

How is liability handled for this? This seems like a huge grey area. Of course a pax should not be responsible for Dl's loss due to a medical emergency--that's just part of the cost of doing business as an airline. But if it is true what Chazpilot said, that it had something to do with a choice he made, then this enters a grey area.

Has DL ever attempted to recoup costs from a diversion? Is there any legal precedent for this?

kop84

The original Post from from 2014. Apparently it happened again last night. Judging by no news stories about a medical diversion or "rowdy" passengers, I'd say mechanical of some kind.


But to answer your questions, if medical, I doubt there would be much of a case for DL as to sue for damages you usually have to prove negligence or malice. That's hard to prove and you're going to have a large corporation suing an individual who just had a heart attack, stroke, etc.

Or in the case of a pax being an @$$hole, the airline COULD sue, but the cost of the diversion is so great, it's highly unlikely the airline would ever be able to collect anywhere near the amount to cover the cost, plus legal fees/time.

So really for the airlines anytime there is a diversion, they lose.

jrkmsp

It was a planned stop, actually. Not sure why, though. I'm taking that flight next month and was investigating the routing and how often it runs late and happened to notice the extra section.

Funnily enough, FlightAware had the ANC-PVG being operated by a 747-200, which led to a couple moments of serious confusion on my part.

N639DL

That's what I was thinking too.

On FlightAware for a diverted flight it would normally show something like:

ANC - PVG
DTW - ANC
DTW - PVG DIVERTED

But instead it just shows DTW-ANC and ANC-PVG without there ever being a "diverted" remark. DL.com however shows it as "diverted".

I'm just speculating, but I believe it was a planned fuel stop because a) strong headwinds and/or b) there was a lot of cargo on, as this route is often payload optimized on the 744. Looking at the flight map they headed towards ANC right from the start, a normal flight path for DTW-PVG goes towards the North Pole (as DL583 today is doing).

Between the two flights, FlightAware believes the total for both legs was 7,703 miles and flying time of 14 hours and 14 minutes. DL says their 744 has a range of 7,365 miles. Seems to me like a planned stop to get more fuel and probably some additional crew members too.

thistledebbee

Just now noticed this about the flight my husband, son, daughter-in-law and I were on. I would like to offer a clarification - A Chinese National Citizen (CNC) was intoxicated. He became very abusive with a family member (choking was involved). He had 5-6 beers. CNC was given a valium or something like it to calm him down and then he went into a coma. He probably had alcohol dehydrogenase syndrome. The flight attendant needed the first aid kit which was above my son's seat. When my son stood up to get it the flight attendant asked for his assistance because he is 6'5" tall and he looks like a linebacker but is actually a big teddy bear. There were many medical personel who came to the aid of this guy but it was a bonus for them, my son also is a physician. My son then spent the next 3 hours baby sitting the CNC - his hands were zip tied behind his back and he was on the floor in the bulkhead of economy but he still tried to abuse the nurse who was helping him.

We were diverted to Anchorage because when the incident occured we were over Russia and less than 3 hours from landing but new rules passed by the FAA? a few weeks before said any difficulties on an American plane, that plane must divert to the nearest American airport that can accommodate the vehicle. (this was told to me by an airline employee who was a passenger sitting near me).

With regard to the guy in handcuffs, that was just a coincidence. He was being deported back to China. He had nothing to do with the altercation and he was escorted back to our plane in the morning with his guard. None of us knew he was even on the plane until he was escorted off in handcuffs after the ill passenger. I could see how someone would think they were related but they weren't.

The airlines and the hotel which served all of us dinner and breakfast was A+++ Employees were called back in to accommodate us and they were all very happy to help. Lesson learned, keep extra underwear and socks in carry on. They gave us a Dopp kit with tooth brush and paste etc. Hip hip hooray! ^

The CNC tried to get back on our plane in the morning but Delta made him take another flight. It was truly an experience we will always remember especially my son.

kthomas

Last I looked into the issue (estate-related matter), PAX and their insurance are potentially liable for medical diversion costs, which can be substantive. A little googling can be your friend here.

ty97

Read the title too fast and was baffled how and why DL583 LGA-DTW (the initiating leg of 583) diverted to Alaska. Makes much more sense now!

flyerCO

No such rule requiring going back to an American airport. ANC has better handling both crew/plane wise, passenger wise, and medically wise for the CN then anything in Russia in that area. They don't land at a point just because it's the closest, but because it's the best equipped.

Bowgie

I totally agree. When in Anchorage on my own dime, I always stay at the Hilton in downtown despite the taxi cost. If OP wants some good brew, salmon, and possibly live music, I'd suggest Humpy's Great Alaskan Alehouse. It about two or three short blocks from the Hilton.