DL ATL-HNL 3/26/21 diverted to LAX
 

DL 1186 ATL-HNL diverted to LAX. The news reports that the diversion was due to an oil leak. It was about halfway between LAX and HNL. So close. Yet so far.

https://flightaware.com/live/flight/...435Z/KATL/KLAX

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...1a4558beb4.png

That is one long day, once all of the issues gets handled.

Wow that would be frustrating. Looks like they really were halfway, probably an operational decision to turn around (easier to repair and more replacement planes at LAX)

Looks like they're putting everyone up for the night. Special flight DL9905 LAX-HNL scheduled to depart tomorrow at 7am

ETOPS procedures are “land at the nearest suitable airport”; maintenance/repair considerations don’t enter into the decision (basically, there are defined points on the route at which the divert point changes; once they pass the last one, the crew has to continue to the destination)

per FR24, it’s the same jet (N840MH)

SFO was closer than LAX. Last time I checked, SFO can accommodate a 767 ;). I think operational factors did enter into the equation. It's not like there was smoke in the cockpit (in that case I agree, nearest runway period). Edit: Appears they might have started heading for SFO and then redirected to LAX along the way

Ya I noticed that too, guess they're confident in being able to repair it overnight

I was on one of these "flights to nowhere" once. ATL-MUC which diverted as we started to cross the North Atlantic past Canada due to one of the hydraulic systems having issues. Initially, the captain was instructed to divert to JFK. But was then told to go all the way back to ATL. It wasn't as long as this 10 hour ordeal (was closer to 8 hours). But definitely very frustrating (especially when the voucher for the Quality Inn at ATL I was given at 2AM was no good because it was full).

interesting that the crew can apparently change the divert destination after the mandatory decision to divert

in this case, “oil leak” is probably due to something like an O-ring seal, which is a fairly routine repair

No biggie. It's all ball bearings nowadays, just fix the fetzer valve and get back in the air. (don't make me explain this :-)

Maybe the fix didnt go well.

Looks like DL9905 was switched to N837MH overnight. The diverted plane is headed to JFK now.

The halfway point isn't based on distance, it is based on time. Winds would generally be out of the west so the changeover point would be closer to Hawaii than the mainland.

The divert may have been to LAX from the start. ATC clearance across the existing tracks can be difficult due to it being a non-RADAR environment. The options are to wait or descend below the organized track system. That decision would be made based on information that we don't have.

I think it's the bypass line :p

Feel sorry for these folks - wouldn’t their 72 hours in advance of arrival Covid tests now all be invalid to arrive at HNL without quarantine?

No the state accepts test >72 hours if the flight is delayed due to the airline.

Good to know!