Well American Airlines, which one is the true reason of the diversion?

[Jet Jockey A4]

Medical or mechanical?

https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/american-airlines-flight-lands-safely-in-calgary-after-medical-issue-1.4130641

[roybert]

Jet Jockey

I think the statement from Calgary EMS says it all. "Calgary EMS said they did not transport any passengers from the aircraft." It was also reported that they had planned to land in Edmonton but runway wasn't long enough. Kind of makes it sound like a mechanical issue and not a medical issue.

Out of interest what is the landing distance for a zero flap landing on the 787?

[Commander Taco]

If it was a hydraulic problem, I can’t see why that would lead to a no flaps/slats landing. Flaps/Slats should have been available in secondary mode, or as a last resort, alternate mode.

[garylovesbeer]

"Medical Issue".
American Airlines euphemism for Sick Aircraft? :}

[India Four Two]

I suspect the choice of Calgary vs. Edmonton was to do with the fact that Edmonton airport is out in the sticks whereas Calgary airport is within the city limits and is surrounded by hotels that could accommodate an unexpected 787-load of guests.

I don’t think runway length would have been an issue:

Edmonton runway length 10,995’. Elevation 2373’.
Calgary runway length 14,000’. Elevation 3606’.

[ScepticalOptomist]

If it was a hydraulic problem, I can’t see why that would lead to a no flaps/slats landing. Flaps/Slats should have been available in secondary mode, or as a last resort, alternate mode.

I didn’t see mention of a HYD problem.

Totally plausible that on the way in to the diversion field they had a technical issue that would be better handled at a field with a longer runway / better facilities and decided to / were asked to divert there instead.

Seems perfectly normal airline ops to me.

[Sailvi767]

At a minimum the aircraft probably needed a overweight landing inspection. The crew was probably going to be illegal to continue by the time that was done.

[evansb]

How overweight do you think the diverted AA Boeing 787 would have been? It was airborne over 4 hours when the diversion took place. To quote the article " The plane was forced to burn some fuel, “to reduce the landing weight,” the airline said.

[Commander Taco]

I didn’t see mention of a HYD problem.

Totally plausible that on the way in to the diversion field they had a technical issue that would be better handled at a field with a longer runway / better facilities and decided to / were asked to divert there instead.

Seems perfectly normal airline ops to me.

Speculation on other AV forums suggests a hydraulic problem, probably because all the gear doors were hanging. And why the no flaps/slats landing? Even without hydraulics, the 787 center hydraulic loss checklist will direct the crew to extend the flaps to the 20 degree position using the alternate (electric motors) flap drive system.

Also, sceptical optimist, you apparently missed the “If” at the start of my post.

[Sailvi767]

How overweight do you think the diverted AA Boeing 787 would have been? It was airborne over 4 hours when the diversion took place. To quote the article " The plane was forced to burn some fuel, “to reduce the landing weight,” the airline said.

If they were full I suspect they were quite a bit overweight at that point.

[India Four Two]

Takeoff was at 15:34Z. Diversion started just after four hours en route at 19:48. At 20:58 they carried out a missed approach at Edmonton and after over two hours of maneuvering, they landed at Calgary at 23:14Z (17:14 local).

Elapsed time 7h40 compared to a planned time of about 13 hours. What surprises me is that all the maneuvering between Edmonton and Calgary was at 9000' or below, which is uncontrolled airspace.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/583x433/screen_shot_2018_10_14_at_09_24_04__c964bbba5f94dfa3b70cf5e1 d65a61927fc41ccd.png

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/397x441/screen_shot_2018_10_14_at_09_24_23__9b081d738a5748dc56c52154 6aed2335d5bb449e.png
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/aa263/#1e2d26f3

[Cough]

If they were full I suspect they were quite a bit overweight at that point.

Given that the video linked by the OP has an interview with a gent who said the aircraft was venting jet fuel, I very much doubt they were overweight at all...