Some Delta passengers are going to spend Christmas near the North Pole
Dec 24, 2018, 11:43 am
#18
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Back to the topic of the diverted flight . . . I hope there is a FTer on board who can report how it all unfolded.A few logistical questions I have about a situation of a diversion to an extremely remote location:
1. Are passengers allowed to deplane? If so, is there any kind of facility for them in which to pass the time? What would that look like? If they do deplane, is there a security rescreening process before they re-board? How would that work as I doubt there is security screening machinery in place there? Maybe they’d send some TSA agents on the rescue plane with hand-held wands?
2. I would really hope that passport formalities (i.e, the absence of a CBP presence there) would not be a barrier to allowing passengers to deplane. I mean, really, is a non-citizen with nefarious intent going to attempt to take advantage of the situation to sneak into the U.S. by way of a remote Aleutian Island?
3. Given that there is a “rescue plane” coming, how are the logistics of checked baggage handled? Will they transfer baggage to the “rescue plane”, or leave it on the affected plane for future delivery? If they bring some baggage handlers on the rescue plane, that’ll probably represent an exciting opportunity for them. Would they bring one of those planeside conveyor belt trucks on the rescue plane?
4. If passengers have to stay on the plane, would Delta be able to provide some meal service and keep lavatories functioning?
Merry Christmas to all on board! Hope you can get where you are going as soon as possible.
1. Are passengers allowed to deplane? If so, is there any kind of facility for them in which to pass the time? What would that look like? If they do deplane, is there a security rescreening process before they re-board? How would that work as I doubt there is security screening machinery in place there? Maybe they’d send some TSA agents on the rescue plane with hand-held wands?
2. I would really hope that passport formalities (i.e, the absence of a CBP presence there) would not be a barrier to allowing passengers to deplane. I mean, really, is a non-citizen with nefarious intent going to attempt to take advantage of the situation to sneak into the U.S. by way of a remote Aleutian Island?
3. Given that there is a “rescue plane” coming, how are the logistics of checked baggage handled? Will they transfer baggage to the “rescue plane”, or leave it on the affected plane for future delivery? If they bring some baggage handlers on the rescue plane, that’ll probably represent an exciting opportunity for them. Would they bring one of those planeside conveyor belt trucks on the rescue plane?
4. If passengers have to stay on the plane, would Delta be able to provide some meal service and keep lavatories functioning?
Merry Christmas to all on board! Hope you can get where you are going as soon as possible.
Dec 24, 2018, 11:43 am
#19
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Dec 24, 2018, 12:26 pm
#20
Join Date: Nov 2009
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Some observations: DL 128 arrived SYA at midnight local time. Sunrise today at SYA is 10:34 am. The rescue B763 (DL 9950) is arriving SYA at about 11 am local time and the schedule calls for departure as DL 9928 SYA-SEA at 1:55 pm and arriving SEA at 9 pm today. If this holds, that would be something like a 14 hour delay from the original arrival time.
Dec 24, 2018, 1:14 pm
#22
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Some observations: DL 128 arrived SYA at midnight local time. Sunrise today at SYA is 10:34 am. The rescue B763 (DL 9950) is arriving SYA at about 11 am local time and the schedule calls for departure as DL 9928 SYA-SEA at 1:55 pm and arriving SEA at 9 pm today. If this holds, that would be something like a 14 hour delay from the original arrival time.
Dec 24, 2018, 1:18 pm
#23
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My amateur understanding of ETOPS rules is that when you go down to own engine, you must immediately proceed to the nearest suitable diversion airport. Which means putting down ASAP, not flying for 3+ more hours to ANC. After Shemya comes Cold Bay, and you may recall how complicated that diversion was a couple years ago.
Dec 24, 2018, 1:37 pm
#24
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There's some discussion about this on airliners.net (https://www.airliners.net/forum/view...?f=3&t=1411327) including a link to a Flickr album showing some pretty cool photos of the previous Delta diversion to Cold Bay. 
Dec 24, 2018, 4:23 pm
#25
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I found this thread from January 2017, if anyone's interested:
<Sorry if I missed somebody already having posted this.>
Anyone know what happened w/ DL68 NRT-PDX diverting to Cold Bay?
<Sorry if I missed somebody already having posted this.
>Anyone know what happened w/ DL68 NRT-PDX diverting to Cold Bay?
Dec 24, 2018, 6:17 pm
#26
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In my understanding of ETOPS, the airline must have procedures in place for diversion in such remote places RE: food, shelter, immigration and rescue.
Looks like DL had a spare 767 (N1603) sitting in SEA overnight after arriving from CDG.
The rescue flight landed in SYA over 4 hours ago, but still has not turned around.
Looks like DL had a spare 767 (N1603) sitting in SEA overnight after arriving from CDG.
The rescue flight landed in SYA over 4 hours ago, but still has not turned around.
Dec 24, 2018, 6:20 pm
#27
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Rescue aircraft heading back to SEA with pax https://flightaware.com/live/flight/...355Z/PASY/KSEA
Very quick reaction and turnaround all things considered.
Very quick reaction and turnaround all things considered.
Dec 24, 2018, 7:31 pm
#29
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Jealous of the stop in SYA. I've only been as far East in Alaska as ADK (AS), DUT (KS/AS) and GAM (7H). Coming back from DUT, we did have a fuel stop in CDB 
Glad everyone was OK.
Glad everyone was OK.
Dec 24, 2018, 8:11 pm
#30
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There is also a Tsunami tide gauge there. Lots of cool stuff to see.
I've also been to Cold Bay, but my dream is to go to Attu.
I've also been to Cold Bay, but my dream is to go to Attu.