Originally Posted by
C441
Ansett landed a DC9 in Groote Eylandt in mid-1980 with almost no fuel - not enough for another circuit.
It was a Cairns - Gove flight with a reasonable amount of fuel but not enough for a couple of go-rounds off the non runway aligned VOR approach in Gove and a diversion to Darwin. Groote was not an approved DC-9 airport and the jet remained at the eastern end of the runway for a couple of days before being very carefully turned around and taxied to the apron.
Imagine the media (social and other) coverage that would get today.
And the F 28 that diverted from Derby to Fitzroy Crossing using car headlights to light the strip. ( Google it.. there is a good video about it.)