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As the article points out: > causes for flight diversions can range from medical (related to crew and passengers), weather (unlikely), unruly activity (we would
by thoughtpeddler 4y ago
As the article points out:
> causes for flight diversions can range from medical (related to crew and passengers), weather (unlikely), unruly activity (we would have heard about that), and mechanical (the most likely). Someone even mentioned solar flares.
But none seem to be the case with these diversions, from what is publicly known.
- jaywalk 4y agoWhy would you say none of those reasons seem to be the case? We literally don't know, and there's not really any other reason (that's reasonably possible) other than those three.
- thoughtpeddler 4y agoI may have overstated my case there. Absence of evidence != evidence of absence, after all. Curious to see what the HN community makes of this though. Maybe it's a nothingburger.
- plegresl 4y agoTwo of the Southwest flights are known to be mechanical related: https://avherald.com/h?article=4fc19a3b&opt=0 https://avherald.com/h?article=4fc19a3b&opt=0 https://avherald.com/h?article=4fcfe330&opt=0 https://avherald.com/h?article=4fcfe330&opt=0
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]
- ThePowerOfFuet 4y agoAvHerald finally supports HTTPS!
- H8crilA 4y agoMedical diversions (a passenger gets too sick) are by far the most common type. I find this interesting how the planes are so much more reliable than the passengers on board.
- bayindirh 4y agoIt's because of the redundancies. I have heard "Master Caution/Alarm" blaring on (IIRC two of) my flights, mid flight, and nobody said anything. We just continued undisturbed and landed as we should. I'm sure the plane went to technical hangar, tho.
- Gravityloss 4y agoAlso, serious processes dealing with anomalies, anonymous incident reporting, strict maintenance rules, long term active government research...
- selectodude 4y agoAlso that goes off pretty frequently. When the PIC switches off autopilot when coming in for landing, for example.
- bombcar 4y agoYeah, many activities trigger it (the pilot will be expecting it coming out of autopilot, if he hears it at cruise because autopilot disengaged they'll investigate).
- AceyMan 4y agoI suspect you meant "the PF" not the PIC (where PF equals 'pilot flying').
- bayindirh 4y agoIt was squarely mid-flight/cruising, international IIRC. We were nowhere near landing/approach.
- jaywalk 4y agoAutopilot disconnect sound is distinct from master caution/warning.
- rtkwe 4y agoWell the people don't get regular maintenance and inspections before every flight where the planes do for starters. It'd be concerning if a random group of a few hundred people were more reliably well than a given mechanical system their lives depend on.
- United857 4y agoLiveATC has archives of air traffic control comms in many places, it's possible that these flights are included. If we know the exact time, it might be possible for someone dedicated enough to check and see what the reported reason was.
- bombcar 4y agoIf it's not a mechanical emergency (or even a caution) ATC often won't be informed; only if they need emergency equipment to meet, need priority, or have a security issue. In other words if it's an airline policy diversion ATC may just see a plane requesting deviation from flight path.