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UA99 (MEL-LAX) - Forced to Divert to Noumea, New Caledonia -- 25 March 2019

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UA99 (MEL-LAX) - Forced to Divert to Noumea, New Caledonia -- 25 March 2019

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Old Mar 25, 2019, 2:10 am
  #1  
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UA99 (MEL-LAX) - Forced to Divert to Noumea, New Caledonia -- 25 March 2019

https://www.smh.com.au/national/smel...25-p517h8.html
obviously a file photo in the report.
onward flight to LAX cancelled
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Old Mar 25, 2019, 3:01 am
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It's all over the news now. Reports that the 256 pax will overnight in Noumea. There are worse places.

https://www.straitstimes.com/world/e...e-from-cockpit
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Old Mar 25, 2019, 5:05 am
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Emergency landing here in Noumea, New Caledonia due to smoke in the cockpit. Landed safely without incident. However, it was a bit unsettling to see the aircraft dumping fuel over the ocean before landing. Also, it was my first time seeing the flight attendants demonstrate how to do the "brace position". Hope to get more info on when we can leave the island (hopefully tomorrow morning). New Caledonia is a beautiful place. United and the people of New Caledonia have taken good care of us.
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Old Mar 25, 2019, 5:11 am
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Wow, I was on the previous flight on Sunday. Other than a slight delay out of MEL, it went fine.

I was amazed at how friendly the UA staff was, both on 98 and 99. This has not been my experience on previous UA longhaul flights.
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Old Mar 25, 2019, 5:25 am
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Originally Posted by stimpy
It's all over the news now. Reports that the 256 pax will overnight in Noumea. There are worse places.

https://www.straitstimes.com/world/e...e-from-cockpit
You know it's a developing story when the author feels the need to flesh it out with references to problems with a completely different aircraft.
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Old Mar 25, 2019, 5:28 am
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Originally Posted by iapetus
You know it's a developing story when the author feels the need to flesh it out with references to problems with a completely different aircraft.
When I read that, I immediately thought: "What have those flights got to do with this???"
I simply put it down to bad journalism.
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Old Mar 25, 2019, 6:54 am
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Originally Posted by UA Mike
Emergency landing here in Noumea, New Caledonia due to smoke in the cockpit. Landed safely without incident. However, it was a bit unsettling to see the aircraft dumping fuel over the ocean before landing. Also, it was my first time seeing the flight attendants demonstrate how to do the "brace position". Hope to get more info on when we can leave the island (hopefully tomorrow morning). New Caledonia is a beautiful place. United and the people of New Caledonia have taken good care of us.
Thanks for the update and of course glad you and the others are OK.

Always amazes me at the number of times an issue is posted with a specific flight, and turns out a FlyerTalker was on board to provide an update...
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Old Mar 25, 2019, 7:20 am
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UA got creative in getting these pax back to LAX, big props for that.

The original UA99 that diverted (N15969) is going to ferry back to LAX empty tomorrow as UA2740.

To get the stranded passengers back to LAX UA has cancelled UA842 on 26 MAR and will ferry that plane (N35953), currently in route to SYD as UA839, to NOU as UA2739 to pick up the stranded passengers and then depart for LAX as UA2829 arriving in LAX at 0817 on 26 March.
​​
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Old Mar 25, 2019, 9:20 am
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So will the crew due to fly SYD-LAX operate SYD-NOU and the crew that has been resting in NOU operating the disabled aircraft fly NOU-LAX?
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Old Mar 25, 2019, 9:57 am
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Originally Posted by chuck1
So will the crew due to fly SYD-LAX operate SYD-NOU and the crew that has been resting in NOU operating the disabled aircraft fly NOU-LAX?
Not sure I am assuming it is one crew flying SYD-NOU-LAX and then the crew currently in NOU flying the disabled aircraft
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Old Mar 25, 2019, 10:09 am
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Originally Posted by N104UA
UA got creative in getting these pax back to LAX, big props for that.

The original UA99 that diverted (N15969) is going to ferry back to LAX empty tomorrow as UA2740.

To get the stranded passengers back to LAX UA has cancelled UA842 on 26 MAR and will ferry that plane (N35953), currently in route to SYD as UA839, to NOU as UA2739 to pick up the stranded passengers and then depart for LAX as UA2829 arriving in LAX at 0817 on 26 March.
​​
Thanks for this update! Just received the text from UA confirming UA 2829 will be departing NOU at 3:00 pm on March 26 and will arrive at LAX at 8:28 am Tuesday, March 26.
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Old Mar 25, 2019, 10:49 am
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Originally Posted by UA Mike
Emergency landing here in Noumea, New Caledonia due to smoke in the cockpit. Landed safely without incident. However, it was a bit unsettling to see the aircraft dumping fuel over the ocean before landing. Also, it was my first time seeing the flight attendants demonstrate how to do the "brace position". Hope to get more info on when we can leave the island (hopefully tomorrow morning). New Caledonia is a beautiful place. United and the people of New Caledonia have taken good care of us.
Just curious, why is a brace needed? It sounds like this wasn't an emergency landing as the pilots had time to dump fuel. So I would assume it was "just" another landing. I would think if smoke in the cockpit was severe enough that pilots might have imparied judgement landing, the flight would immediately land.
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Old Mar 25, 2019, 11:00 am
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Originally Posted by BThumme
Just curious, why is a brace needed? It sounds like this wasn't an emergency landing as the pilots had time to dump fuel. So I would assume it was "just" another landing. I would think if smoke in the cockpit was severe enough that pilots might have imparied judgement landing, the flight would immediately land.
Thankfully, the pilots were able to execute a normal landing having dumped enough fuel. I think that the flight attendants briefed us on the "brace position" just in case the standard landing procedures would not be possible.
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Old Mar 25, 2019, 11:15 am
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I was hoping UA would introduce nonstop service to NOU!
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Old Mar 25, 2019, 1:10 pm
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Originally Posted by BThumme
Just curious, why is a brace needed? It sounds like this wasn't an emergency landing as the pilots had time to dump fuel. So I would assume it was "just" another landing. I would think if smoke in the cockpit was severe enough that pilots might have imparied judgement landing, the flight would immediately land.
It is done "just in case". When there is smoke in the cockpit, you never know what might happen...an otherwise normal landing may turn into something else.
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