Report by Delta Captain Landing Tokyo Diring Earthquake
 

The massive amount of diverting traffic as both NRT and HND closed to incoming traffic, local AFBs unable to accept diversions, and eventually the need to declare emergencies to get a clearance to a suitable runway, in this case Chitose.

Written by a Delta pilot on approach to Tokyo during earthquake : reddit.com

My understanding is that military fields around Tokyo eventually opened their runways to commercial flights - but eventually can be a long time if one is about to go min. fuel.

An interesting read - I was just looking at some Tech Log threads on definitions and calculations of reserve fuel, minimum fuel, when to call "PAN" or "MAYDAY" and such last night. This article was a perfect example of how they play out in the real world (I'll assume "real," for the moment.)

I saw it a few days back. It was attributed to an American Airlines pilot..

Yes, a 767 AA pilot....next it'll be a PanAm guy.:}

Quite right, the news is flat so it needs to be pumped up into a story

Pardon me if I have a hard time believing this, but I saw the same sort of "story" over 2 and a half years ago which had United as the airline and a below minimums approach as the punch line.

The writing and style are very reminiscent of that one (right down to the Top Gun quote).

I like how he refers to the 767 as a "big plane". In Japan, a 767 is a tiny regional jet. Most airports can handle 777s and 744Ds, I'm sure they'll be able to handle a "massive" 767. Just about every airport has 8000ft-plus runways.

Now as far as having customs, that is a different story.

I call fake. Pilots don't write like that.

I call fake too. Delta schedules are saying they fly Airbus to Narita and not a 767.

This is total trivia and should be in 'Spotters' or JB. Does anyone really care?

Delta was using a 767 to/from Seattle last year. Now I think it goes to KIX, but SFO & PDX are 76s. Either way, this guy sounds like a tool in "his" 767!

... and then he drove from Chitose to Narita?

After a Trans Pacific Westbound flight? .......Dream on...... Only Flight Simmers can afford that sort of fuel. :E

Northwest Airlines, oops, ummm, I mean Delta, flies an A330 from SEA to NRT. And, a 767 IS a regional jet in Japan...and a few other places.