I LOVE EWR From United States of America, joined Jan 2002, 852 posts, RR: 10 Posted (8 years 12 months 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 6095 times:
In our travels I am sure some of had delayed flights. Some of those delays I am sure were mechanical or weather related. However what was the most unusual delay you might have had?
One time on an AS flight from SEA-SJC we were given a ground stop and delayed about 20 minutes to allow the Blue Angles to finish up their practice over the Pudget Sound. That's about as unusual they get for me, but what are some of the unusual reasons your flights might have been delayed?
Dexter From Austria, joined Jul 2000, 260 posts, RR: 1 Reply 1, posted (8 years 12 months 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 6066 times:
My flight MAN-ZRH on LX last summer. We were already at the gate when they announced a short delay. Then the police arrived! It turned out that a box of diamonds (!) they had to bring on the inbound flight from ZRH was missing. After almost 2 hours of delay we managed to leave MAN and the Captain said that the diamonds have actually been left behind in ZRH.
I missed a connecting flight b/c of that and had to be rerouted!
Jcs17 From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 8019 posts, RR: 50 Reply 2, posted (8 years 12 months 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 6044 times:
About 2 years ago while waiting to close the doors and push back for a Delta ATL-SJU flight, a flight attendant came on the loudspeaker and explained that we would be delayed about 15 minutes because the catering truck loaded meals that were supposed to be going to LAX.
B737-700 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 3, posted (8 years 12 months 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 6025 times:
We had already boarded an Air France flight to Paris CDG when a delay was announced due to an accident of another airliner on the main runway at Buenos Aires Ezeiza airport.
They then had to decide what to leave behind in order to be able to take-off (very heavy 777).
Finally they dumped 10 tons of cargo instead of fuel and we taxied to the shorter runway where we took-off.
Redngold From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 6907 posts, RR: 54 Reply 4, posted (8 years 12 months 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 6010 times:
In 1988:
Piedmont bumped us to Eastern Airlines because CLT was fogged in and we weren't going to make our connecting flight. Unfortunately, it seemed that Piedmont bumped almost EVERYONE to Eastern, so we endured a six hour delay until Eastern could prepare and fly in an L-1011 from JFK (to move as many people as possible.) Add to that the fact that we flew back to JFK, but my family had been scheduled to fly MCO-CLT-EWR, and it took us nearly 16 hours to get home when we should have had approximately 4 hour trip had it been done correctly.
In 1998:
USAirways Express delayed our ABE-PHL flight because the plane had a mechanical problem in PHL (the aircraft did PHL-ABE-PHL-ABE... all day) Finally they got the plane up in the air only to continue with mechanical problems. But that didn't make them turn around; the plane arrived and discharged thirty hot and sweaty passengers. The mechanical problem? NO air conditioning. The temp was about 90 degrees and humid. This ended up being one of my "trips from hell" because we got on that sweltering plane, flew to PHL and had to go around due to a Continental MD-80 coming in on the crosswind right in front of us. The go-around took 20 minutes due to airway congestion. Then my next flight... after I ran for it (as best as I could, since I was on crutches), I arrived at the gate to find out it was cancelled, DUE TO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS!
Jtamu97 From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 651 posts, RR: 3 Reply 5, posted (8 years 12 months 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 5992 times:
When I was a kid, our CO flight out of Denver was delayed while waiting for takeoff due to the airport personell trying to chase a rabbit that kept coming onto the runway..I wonder what ever happened to the Raskily Rabbit??
CV990A From United States of America, joined Sep 1999, 1383 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (8 years 12 months 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 5964 times:
I had a BA flight from LHR to MAD delayed 2 hours because 18 drunken passengers on the flight stole the lifevests from a connecting flight and wore them INFLATED (!) through Heathrow. Needless to say, they were arrested, and the delay was from getting their bags off the plane. All this at 9 n the morning too!
WLG-Spotter From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 7, posted (8 years 12 months 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 5964 times:
Well, I would say my most "unusual" delay was way back in 1992, on board a Singapore Airlines Boeing 747-312, flying SIN-KUL. Firstly, at that time, it was really unusual for a B747 to operate the short 50min shuttle SIN-KUL. And, my flight was delayed for well over an hour, and we had so sit in the plane waiting, when we could have arrived in KUL even BEFORE we took off from SIN. What's more, the aircraft have to be parked at a remote bay while waiting take-off clearance, so as not to take up valuable gate space.
And the reason for the delay - there was a fire at KUL (then was Subang Airport, or SZB now) airport control tower and the airport was basically "crippled"..! Also explained why the 747 was operating my flight as some flights had to be canx, and SQ chose to fly a bigger plane to accomodate the paxs.
Well, if you thot that was it, no... A couple of weeks later, a mate of mine flew SIN-KUL and again the flight was delays by over an hour, and again it was a B747... The reason this time - (and I quote the reason given to the paxs) "due to heavy torrential rain, the airport approach radar was flooded!"
Bhill From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 736 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (8 years 12 months 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 5926 times:
On 5 Dec. 01, my United Express flight from Grand Junction to Denver was canceled because the Flight Attendant forgot, (or lost) her ID card on the previous trip, and we were not allowed to take off. They actually had to fly in another Attendant to complete the trip. I was not pleased and received a $50 chit fron United. However, there was one couple headed to Europe that missed their flight because of it.
ZRH From Switzerland, joined Nov 1999, 5448 posts, RR: 47 Reply 9, posted (8 years 12 months 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 5909 times:
LX flight from ZRH to Berlin (about two years ago): Everybody was on board. Suddenly the f/o spoke from the flight deck: "I am sorry we can't leave, because the captain is missing"
The fact was that the captain should have come on flight from Basel but this flight was cancelled. But they managed it well and already 10 min later an other captain came on board and we arrived Berlin only 5 mins late.
Glider From Belgium, joined Feb 2001, 297 posts, RR: 1 Reply 10, posted (8 years 12 months 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 5900 times:
In march 2001, I went on a vacation with my class to Greece. It was the 29th, one day after the opening of the new Athens Elefterios-Venizelos airport. Our flight from Brussels was planned to leave at 11.45, but due to starting problems at the Athens airport, our plane arrived at 14.30. Finally, we left at 15.30u. after some long and boring hours of waiting (and of course looking at the other planes )
FlyingTexan From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 11, posted (8 years 12 months 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 5898 times:
Here are some odd delays / diversions under my watch at work:
American 222 LAX-BOS Diversion to PHX due to dog in cargo, aft heat inoperative (BTW - Dog survived, owner extremely thankful toward AA for diversion). Happened New Year's Day 2001.
American 158 DFW-KIX Diversion to ANC due to ‘PSGR Service’ more like ‘PSGR DIS-service.' Japanese national traveling Lima-DFW-Osaka broke his bottle of duty free vodka after drinking the entire thing and threatened to kill F/A and other passengers w/it. Passenger removed at ANC courtesy of United States Federal Bureau of Investigation. Captain demanded bag removal before continuing to KIX. Flight crew went illegal while Alaska personnel searching for that bag. It was a joy overnighting an entire 777 at a non-company station (this was during off seasion). IIRC, this was Spring 2001.
Summer 2000: Sun Country charter CUN-IAH. F/A dropped customs clearence form / dec. The form fell into small space between bulkhead and galley on the SY 727. The loss of this form prevented pax from off-loading. MX crew boarded and unscrewed a few pieces of bulkhead, then a few more pieces, then a few more...until they realized the search was fruitless. Some 45 minutes later (pax still not offloaded) a new customs form was provided and filled out. On turn-around of the 727; Outbound delay caused by MX issue; forward half of the 727 was taken apart! LOL!
Prebennorholm From Denmark, joined Mar 2000, 5739 posts, RR: 56 Reply 12, posted (8 years 12 months 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 5869 times:
By far the most usual reason for my delays (roughly 66%) were "late arriving aircraft".
Next comes "landing slot slipped because of congestion at destination".
Last week we were - already delayed - forced away from the gate at ARN to sit on the taxiway for 20 minutes because of congestion at the destination CPH. The gate at ARN had to be used by another plane. No problem for me, but those who connected at CPH may have had a problem.
Only once did I buy a ticket for a flight which never existed. The ticket stated clearly KAR - CPH. Flight number and departure time was all fine, but for a CPH - KAR flight - the other way. That was 20-25 years ago when tickets were often hand written.
Always keep your number of landings equal to your number of take-offs, Preben Norholm
WMUPilot From United States of America, joined Jan 2003, 1473 posts, RR: 15 Reply 13, posted (8 years 12 months 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 5873 times:
In 1995 I was onboard a United Flight from ORD-DCA to visit some family. We were delayed 6 hours in ORD because President Clinton decided to make a suprise visit to the Chicago area. No planes could take off or land while he was at the airport.
Jmc757 From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2000, 1296 posts, RR: 10 Reply 14, posted (8 years 12 months 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 5865 times:
Flew BHX-TFS July 2001 with Airtours. Arrives at BHX and were told we were 1 hour delayed because the A320 was tech, but another plane was being bought down from MAN. Then once in departures, they announced further delay, next information at hh:mm (when they say that you know its gonna be a long one!). When we collected our refreshment vouchers we were told it was because as the aircraft was leaving MAN a catering truck had collided with it!!!! They had to wait for engineers to inspect it to see if it was safe to fly. We eventually took off 5 hours late.... on the 757 which had suffered the collision!!
Sjc>sfo From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 15, posted (8 years 12 months 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 5851 times:
WMUPilot- I remember exactly the date you're talking about. I remember I was flying UA from ORD to SFO, and traffic was nightmarish because of hte backup at ord, and we thought we'd miss the flight... yeah right.
Weirdest I've ever had was 2 hours, packed full 744 out of LHR to SFO on UA, "didn't have enough headphones for all the passengers"
Demoose From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2001, 1951 posts, RR: 33 Reply 16, posted (8 years 12 months 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 5840 times:
August 2001, flying from Singapore to Dubai my flight with Emirates was delayed due to a navigation failure en route from Melbourne to Singapore, resulting in a disembarkation of all pax and a 15 hr delay with a night in hotel.
My connecting flight to Manchester was then subject to a 1 Hour delay since we had an aborted take off and had to get a warning light checked out by the engineers.
Dinker225 From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 1039 posts, RR: 24 Reply 17, posted (8 years 12 months 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 5816 times:
This last summer I was comming home from Adelaide on my way to Eagle/Vail. Arrived all the way to Denver without a problem. Arrived at the gate in Denver and the sign said ontime. 10 minutes later the board changed to 30 minutes late. The United Express computer system was down so they had to wait for faxes from the UE headquarters to let them know who was supposed to be on each flight out of Denver and where each plane was going. 2 Hours later the computers were back up.
If you have ever flown out of Denver on a United Express you know about the little hallway they make you wait in before boarding the plane. After a 2 hour delay I could have driven home. They left us in the hallway for another 30 minutes because the plane heated up too much due to the hot 90 degree temps on the tarmac that day. We finally got on the plane flight attendant did her little speech about safety. Pilot started up the left engine, no problem. Couldn't start the right because the mechanic or whoever fills the plane with gas didn't flip a switch or something. While we were waiting for the mechanic to come with a ladder and flip the switch the pilot shut off the left engine and the cockpit door flew open! They came over the intercom to tell us that there was smoke in the cockpit!!!
By now we are 2:45 minutes late leaving Denver. We all get off the plane and go back into the main terminal where they tell us that they are going to try and fix the plane and take it for a test run. If it works after the test run they were going to come pick us up. 10 minutes later they go on the intercom and said the flight was cancelled and that we should go to the Custumer Service Desk. They wouldn't organize alternative transportation because it was after 7:00 at night and it was against there policy to do such a thing. Told us they would put is up in a hotel and would fly all 15 of us out on the first flight the next morning, only problem was I heard the customer service lady that the first flight the next morning only had 8 open seats!!
I decided to book a seat on a van and get up myself. They said it would take at least 3 hours to get my bags off the plane and to me. They delivered my bags the next day after they flew into Eagle. One was pretty damaged but United said that it was Qantas's fault. I flew qantas from Adelaide to Melbourne. That was my worst.
Dinker
Two rules in aviation, don't hit anything and don't run out of gas, cause if you run out of gas yer gonna hit something.
Prebennorholm From Denmark, joined Mar 2000, 5739 posts, RR: 56 Reply 18, posted (8 years 12 months 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 5780 times:
Every time a plane is delayed it starts a chain reaction which is hard to get over.
Someone told me that Wilbur Wright's famous flight in December 1903 was in fact delayed, and the whole airline industry hasn't fully recovered from that delay yet.
I also heard that poor Wilbur's baggage hasn't been located yet.
Always keep your number of landings equal to your number of take-offs, Preben Norholm
NASA737 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 19, posted (8 years 12 months 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 5753 times:
Flight Attendant accidentally deployed the survival raft on an ATA L-1011 charter from EWR. We were delayed for 15 hours.
The only other significant delay I've had was a TWA 757 but that was back in the earlier 90's when TWA was nearly dead and they didn't have a plane to fly us.
Fanofjets From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 1840 posts, RR: 4 Reply 20, posted (8 years 12 months 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 5716 times:
I was at PIT wondering why there was no plane at the gate. We were told that we'd be ready to board as soon as they found our plane. How in the world does one lose a USAir DC-9.
Finally our aircraft was located - at the opposite end of the terminal. Then the second delay: the airline couldn't find the crew!
The aeroplane has unveiled for us the true face of the earth. -Antoine de Saint-Exupery
USAIRWAYS321 From United States of America, joined Jul 2001, 1713 posts, RR: 12 Reply 21, posted (8 years 12 months 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 5702 times:
Not too interesting, but I was on a US Airways A320 CLT-SEA last summer and we were delayed because engine #2 wouldn't hold power. It would start up and die within 30 seconds or so. We had already pushed back when they realized this and being on the even side of Councourse B at CLT, we were blocking about 1/4 each of Concourse B & C traffic because the space is so narrow and we were in pushback position still. We sat there for about 20 minutes causing lord know how many delays to ther flights, then they pulled us back to the gate and we sat there for about 30 minutes until they got the problem fixed. The F/As did distribute pretzels and drinks during the delay so I didn't mind too much.
9V-SPJ From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 708 posts, RR: 0 Reply 23, posted (8 years 12 months 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 5683 times:
There are two instances which I remember really clearly:
In 1996, I was flying the then MH90 KUL-TPE-LAX which was delayed for about 14hrs due to a typhoon in Taiwan and crew sickness!
In 2001, SQ29 LAX-TPE-SIN was delayed about 1/2hr due to a QF744 occupying our gate. It was delayed due to some passenger problem.
Crazyboi From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 154 posts, RR: 0 Reply 24, posted (8 years 12 months 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 5675 times:
In November of 2001 I boarded an AirNZ 744 at Sydney bound for LAX on the first leg of my round-the-world. I was exhausted, having been cleaning/organizing/packing to be away for several months, and I immediately went to sleep in my forward economy seat.
Some time later and still at the gate, I awoke to a muffled announcement that they had called for a haz mat crew to inspect the unidentified substance. (Wha?!) Five minutes passed and a crew looking like astronauts, dressed in full haz-mat suits w/ breathing apparatus made their way down the aisle to the rear cabin to work. Ten minutes later they were finished and passed by me on their way to the exit carrying a plastic haz-mat bag with the "goodies." The flight crew announced that they'd contained the unidentified substance and we were cleared for departure about 45 minutes late.
I'm still not sure exactly what happened, but this did take place in the hyper-tense months after the 9/11 attacks and all of the anthrax hype. It may have just been an overzealous passenger or they may have contained something legitimately threatening, but we arrived in LA with no problems.
This is the time. And this is the record of the time.
25 ChrisNH: July 1999: I was on United Flight 761, a jammed 747-400 enroute from SFO-ORD (N116UA). A half-hour out of ORD the captain announced that ORD was close
26 Paulc: flying AA from DFW-ORD the DC10 went tech, rebooked onto 757 which had come over from maintenance. During boarding there was a bit of a crowd around o
27 United_Fan: Lemme think here...... Oct 2000 my flight to ROC from ORD on a UA 727 was delayed because of remnants of a hurricane going thru ATL. Late inbound fro
28 LMML 14/32: Yesterday my AirMalta MLA CTA flight was returned to stand while taxiing out because the Capt's Flight Director (Artificial Horizon) on our B732 was v
29 Yorkie: A few years back my flight JFK - BHX was delayed. The reason given was that they had repainted some of the markings on the stands, and a US Air plane
30 Lubicon: Nothing too exciting really. I've had delays due to: 1. Mechanical - engine would not start after pushback. Flight was eventually cancelled. (DFW-YYC-
31 Gmonney: This could be the best....my flight was delayed because they called a reserve First Officer, and then while on the crew bus at the airport, got a call
32 Tsentsan: I was delayed on SIA B744 once, due to a crack in the cargo door, and repairs had to be done immediately. Due to crew hours running out, we had to ove
33 Boeing767-383: well about every time a needed to get to my destination there was a strike in guees what coutry..... yes, that is right, FRANCE!! these people strike
34 727_Gal: November 2002, coming home CHS-ATL-LIT. I was in Atlanta, having been stuck there for several hours due to a cancelled flight. Anyway, I was cleared f
35 Msh744: Back in 1999, I was at DLH waiting to board a Mesaba flight to DTW, I think (I'm not sure if it was DTW or MSP, but I remember that we were supposed t
36 Blink182: Losing a slot is bad, I found that out a few years ago while taking a transatlantic flight from LGW. My AA MD-11 was in line to take off and we were m
37 Pilotallen: I was delayed for a day reason was.............oh we forgot to call and let youknow we cancelled your flight for tommorow.....now who could that be...
38 BNE: On a 767 flight from MEL To BNE they didn't load enough fuel. It was after the Grand Prix in Melbourne and 767s don't usually fly MEL-BNE. The most wi
39 King penguin: ...detonation (by security) of a suspicious briefcase, and then repair of a wonky engine... May 1997, AC 881 CDG to YYZ First, someone had left a brie
40 AApilot2b: In the fall of 1998 (the eve of British Airway's DC-10 service), I was scheduled to fly on BA's DC-10-30, registered G-MULL from London, Gatwick to Ab
41 LPL: My flight from Liverpool to Isle Of Man was delyed for an hour because the operating aircraft arrived late at LPL due to 'airport congestion.' Conside
42 Jhooper: I love how DL tries to blame their delays in ATL on Air Traffic Control. Guess who is creating all the congestion in the first place!?!?
43 L4141: A day in PUJ we have 20 minute of delay due to a fuel tank broke down on the main taxiway.
44 UN_B732: This isn't very much of a horror story, but I have some pretty typical delays. United 7767 (Operated by: Atlantic Coast) BTV-IAD First of all, we go t
45 Ahlfors: I've had more than my fair share of delays. Back in '96 or '97, can't quite remember, I was on a flight LHR-JFK on British Airways. We taxied to the r
46 PatM04: In January of 2002 we were taking Vanguard out of ATL and were told we would have to wait about and hour to be de-iced. We sat on the runway in the pl
47 AA61hvy: I was on a CO flight from DFW-IAH, then going on to ZIH. We pulled back from the gate, and heard pounding and yelling, the captain taxiied for a while
48 Mandala499: I flew SAS one day, and just as the door closed on the BKK-CPH leg, the captain went on the P/A and swore... "Ladies and Gentlemen, I regret closing t
49 Leezyjet: I've heard of a few delays and dealt with more than a few in my (almost) 10 years in the industry. I'll share a few with you :- One of the best was a
50 AA61hvy: I was at ORD with a friend to ride the 777 from DFW-ORD-DFW. But the 777 from ORD to DFW got hit by the conveyer belt-truck. Huge dent in the engine.
51 PW100: There are off course tons of reasons why flights are being delayed. My most remarkable experience was on a Martinair [MP] flight MIA-AMS a couple of y
52 Jwenting: Longest delay I ever had was because a spare part was needed and not available. It was set to arrive from our departure airport (we were stranded at a
53 CVG777: I was on a USAirways B737-200 from PIT-MCO that was delayed for 40 minutes at the gate because they had to replace one of the windshield washers. Appa
54 AA61hvy: IAH-DFW CO 733. Delayed 40 mins because of a water leak that made the whole cabin wet.
55 AMSMAN: Jan 7th 2003: Sitting in DUB for 3 and a half hours waiting to depart to AMS. It was the time the whole place was covered in Snow and our a/c, an EI A
56 KM732: Four weeks later, on FEB 7, 2003: My flight from MUC to CGN (LH831, operated by A321 D-AIRC) was delayed by about one hour, because of a faulty comput
57 Sabena332: In August 2000 I arrived from LAX at CDG, shortly after I left the plane I saw on a monitor that my connecting flight to DUS was delayed for 9 hours b
58 IFlyMidwExprss: In July 1996 going from MKE-SYD my QANTAS flight (LAX-PPT-AKL-SYD) was delayed 12 hours at LAX due to a volcanic eruption in New Zealand. QF staff too
59 Mas a330: Back in Feb 2002, I was delayed in Cairo due to fog... and later Egypt Air "lost" their crew....
60 AIR757200: Well, I wasn't a passenger, but our S80 today was delayed due to a frozen water line.
61 AmericanF100: My mom was delayed on a Continental 73S for 14 hours on a flight from MSP-EWR, cuz the oxygen masks dropped and they couldn't get a plane, so they end
62 Clipper471: (1) air space congestion, (2) weather, (3) "strike"; in Paris ramp workers moved equipment to block flights from departing in order to protest somethi
63 Lubcha132: my flight got delayed because "at newark, it never gets better"
64 Brett80211: The only flight I was on that had a delay was an American Airlines flight DEN-ORD. We pushed back and taxied, then sat on the tarmac for 1hr.After tha
65 Aesch: Actually my experience happened just last friday when flying from MTL to ATL with Air Canada. The flight was first delayed by an hour. Then an hour be
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