United 777 into Belfast
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Decision made by crew in consultation with their Ops Dept with the facts to hand, as happens 100's of times every day.
If I were to speculate, I would suggest 90% probability medical.
Ho hum.
If I were to speculate, I would suggest 90% probability medical.
Ho hum.
Out of interest, would the runway at Aldergrove be comfortably long enough for a laden 777, or close to the limits ? The track of the aircraft suggests that it took a while to decide to go into BFS, rather than Glasgow or Prestwick for that matter where long runways exist.
SHJ
SHJ
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GLA runway is shorter than BFS, which in turn is around 200m shorter than Prestwick. A 777 to Chicago should have no problems out of BFS.
The 777 entered a brief hold at FL100...but was much closer to BFS at that point than GLA. Also, United operate out of BFS, so would have staff available...although not sure if that was a consideration or not. Do they normally operate from GLA?
Also, seems it was a disruptive passenger rather than a medical emergency.
The 777 entered a brief hold at FL100...but was much closer to BFS at that point than GLA. Also, United operate out of BFS, so would have staff available...although not sure if that was a consideration or not. Do they normally operate from GLA?
Also, seems it was a disruptive passenger rather than a medical emergency.
Thanks for the info, I hadn't expected BFS to have a longer runway than GLA considering they have several long haul flights per day. I believe that UA operate 757's from nearly all UK regional airports, so GLA might have been an option. Perhaps they decided that the PSNI were more likely to deal with the disruptive passenger in a robust fashion ? 
SHJ
SHJ
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Perhaps they decided that the PSNI were more likely to deal with the disruptive passenger in a robust fashion ?
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All second-hand from people at the airport ( but this is a rumour site )
1. BIA was closest diversion location with United presence
2. Passenger & baggage removed into gleeful hands of PSNI swarm
3. Aircraft fueled for departure but problem encountered securing hold door
4. Given that flight was already running four hours late, crew timed-out whilst trying to resolve door problem
5. Crew decamped to hotel and passengers played find-a-room lottery
6. Crew have exceeded their duty hours for the week and new crew being flown-in from Heathrow
7. Departure anticipated Sunday evening
The sequence probably won't surprise anyone who has encountered disruptions on United. They never, ever, ever pick up the phone to Omni / Titan / Euroatlantic for a contingency substitution.
Edit: Belfast has handled 777s before, but very infrequently. Last I recall was a TNT 200F in 2013.
1. BIA was closest diversion location with United presence
2. Passenger & baggage removed into gleeful hands of PSNI swarm
3. Aircraft fueled for departure but problem encountered securing hold door
4. Given that flight was already running four hours late, crew timed-out whilst trying to resolve door problem
5. Crew decamped to hotel and passengers played find-a-room lottery
6. Crew have exceeded their duty hours for the week and new crew being flown-in from Heathrow
7. Departure anticipated Sunday evening
The sequence probably won't surprise anyone who has encountered disruptions on United. They never, ever, ever pick up the phone to Omni / Titan / Euroatlantic for a contingency substitution.
Edit: Belfast has handled 777s before, but very infrequently. Last I recall was a TNT 200F in 2013.
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It has handled everything from Antonov24's down.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonov_An-24
Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult
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Perhaps a look at the press helped?
Belfast International Airport: Disruptive passenger diverts plane - BBC News
Belfast International Airport: Disruptive passenger diverts plane - BBC News
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Perhaps a look at the press helped?
Rather more useful report here, from several thousand miles away. Imagine actually contacting the passengers to find-out what happened! Such pro-active journalism. Perhaps they could run a course for BBC journos?
United Airlines Flight Diverts to Belfast, Passengers Sleep on Floor - NBC News
"At one point the crew were serving ice creams and sorbets to passengers. We were taxying out to leave, refueled, we were on the main runway - then the captain announced it was two minutes over the time they could do time in cockpit due to federal work regulations. People thought he was joking."
Last edited by El Bunto; 21st Jun 2015 at 13:15.
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Assuming that the man involved had ceased his activity before the cabin door was opened ( so that it took place entirely on US territory ), what jurisidiction does a court in Coleraine have?
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I think it's the Tokyo Convention that allows a state that is party to this convention jurisdiction over the aircraft of another state party to the convention in respect of the penal law and any acts that might endanger the aircraft or its occupants (my summary, not the actual legal jargon).
It seems that this incident falls within the parameters of the convention.
I'm certainly not an expert in this field so if I'm wrong with the permitting international law or convention please accept my apologies for misleading.
It seems that this incident falls within the parameters of the convention.
I'm certainly not an expert in this field so if I'm wrong with the permitting international law or convention please accept my apologies for misleading.
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All second-hand from people at the airport ( but this is a rumour site )
1. BIA was closest diversion location with United presence
2. Passenger & baggage removed into gleeful hands of PSNI swarm
3. Aircraft fueled for departure but problem encountered securing hold door
4. Given that flight was already running four hours late, crew timed-out whilst trying to resolve door problem
5. Crew decamped to hotel and passengers played find-a-room lottery
6. Crew have exceeded their duty hours for the week and new crew being flown-in from Heathrow
7. Departure anticipated Sunday evening
1. BIA was closest diversion location with United presence
2. Passenger & baggage removed into gleeful hands of PSNI swarm
3. Aircraft fueled for departure but problem encountered securing hold door
4. Given that flight was already running four hours late, crew timed-out whilst trying to resolve door problem
5. Crew decamped to hotel and passengers played find-a-room lottery
6. Crew have exceeded their duty hours for the week and new crew being flown-in from Heathrow
7. Departure anticipated Sunday evening
BFS was the closest (and probably the quietest) after the fuel dumping, crew wanted aircraft on the ground as soon as possible... No PSNI attendance at aircraft, just the BIA Police. No issues with hold door, was all down to having to secure the passenger, statements, cabin checks, paperwork, refueling and getting to the end of the runway, I believe they missed their window by less than 3 minutes. Departed the next day with the exact same crew.
Think what made this even worse was the fact that there was no hotel availability. Was good to see that the airport coped a lot better than last time there was so many people forced to sleep in the airport during the surprise snow a few years ago, have had plenty of delays myself but never experienced something like this thankfully, I am sure these folks are glad to be back at home now
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Thanks for the corrections. As I noted it was based on hear-say from people who happened to be at the airport at the time, not official sources.
And it had the desired effect: someone stepped-forward to give us the facts.
I don't think the availability or otherwise of hotels makes much difference to United. Three occasions in the past two weeks they have deposited passengers without making any attempt at accommodation ( even for elderly or children ).
A more grave oversight, in my mind, is the airline's failure to provide any catering beyond vouchers. Vouchers aren't any use to passengers trapped in a terminal when the last shop closed at 01:00... and that only because it stayed open until it was out of stock.
And it had the desired effect: someone stepped-forward to give us the facts.
I don't think the availability or otherwise of hotels makes much difference to United. Three occasions in the past two weeks they have deposited passengers without making any attempt at accommodation ( even for elderly or children ).
A more grave oversight, in my mind, is the airline's failure to provide any catering beyond vouchers. Vouchers aren't any use to passengers trapped in a terminal when the last shop closed at 01:00... and that only because it stayed open until it was out of stock.
A couple of short articles on the debacle
Hundreds forced to sleep on airport floor after 'disruptive passenger' plane diversion to Ireland - Independent.ie
It seems to have been about nuts, or crackers apparently
Flight diverted to Irish airport after man demanded 'more nuts or crackers', court told - Independent.ie
SHJ
Hundreds forced to sleep on airport floor after 'disruptive passenger' plane diversion to Ireland - Independent.ie
It seems to have been about nuts, or crackers apparently
Flight diverted to Irish airport after man demanded 'more nuts or crackers', court told - Independent.ie
SHJ
