(NewsNation) — An Alaska Airlines/SkyWest flight diverted and acquired a new pilot after the original pilot admitted he lacked the qualifications to land in Jackson Hole, Wyo.
According to a Reddit post, after the pilot’s unexpected confession, the Aug. 8 flight from Portland, Ore., to Jackson Hole, with a layover in San Francisco, faced this issue.
Reports indicate the pilot informed passengers: “I’m sorry, but I’m not qualified to land in Jackson Hole. We need to divert to Salt Lake City, Utah. We’ll update you on the next steps.”
FlightAware data reveals the aircraft departed San Francisco ahead of schedule and began approaching Jackson Hole but never landed. Instead, it circled the airport before heading to Salt Lake City, nearly 300 miles away. Passengers were delayed an additional 90 minutes on the plane while Alaska Airlines found a qualified pilot. They eventually arrived in Jackson Hole at 2:55 p.m., three hours later than planned.
SkyWest attributed Flight 3491’s diversion to a paperwork error involving the flight crew. The airline stated, “All pilots were qualified to fly and land the aircraft. The diversion from Jackson Hole was due to an internal administrative error and an abundance of caution.” They apologized for the inconvenience and are conducting an internal review to prevent similar issues in the future.
Retired United Airlines pilot Sheila Bodee noted that both the pilot and the airline should have been aware of the requirement for a special pilot-in-command qualification to land at Jackson Hole, a rule in place since 1990.
Frequently Asked Question
Why did the Alaska Airlines/SkyWest flight divert to Salt Lake City?
The flight was diverted due to a paperwork error involving the crew, which led to the pilot’s admission that he was not qualified to land in Jackson Hole.
What was the cause of the delay for the passengers?
Passengers were delayed because the flight crew had to find a new pilot qualified to land in Jackson Hole, resulting in an additional 90-minute wait on the plane.
How did SkyWest respond to the situation?
SkyWest attributed the diversion to an internal administrative error and stated that all pilots were qualified. They apologized for the inconvenience and are reviewing their procedures to prevent future occurrences.
What did the pilot say to the passengers about the diversion?
The pilot informed passengers that he was not qualified to land in Jackson Hole and that the flight needed to divert to Salt Lake City. He promised to keep passengers updated on the next steps.
What does Sheila Bodee say about the pilot’s qualifications?
Sheila Bodee, a retired United Airlines pilot, pointed out that both the pilot and the airline should have been aware of the special qualification required to land at Jackson Hole, which has been in place since 1990.
Conclusion
An Alaska Airlines/SkyWest flight was diverted from Jackson Hole to Salt Lake City due to a paperwork error that revealed the pilot was not qualified to land at Jackson Hole. This mistake led to a delay of over three hours for passengers, who spent an additional 90 minutes waiting on the plane while a qualified pilot was found. SkyWest has apologized for the inconvenience, attributing the issue to an internal administrative error and pledging to review their procedures. Expert Sheila Bodee highlighted that the pilot’s qualifications should have been verified, as a special certification for landing at Jackson Hole has been required since 1990.
