QF4 JFK-AKL diversion to Fiji (4/10/24)

[henrus]

One person even said pilots get the weather forecast from other planes!

I mean it’s half there, they can get weather reports from other pilots but that’s just one of many tools they’ve got to tell the weather.

 

[markis10]

Had a look at the TAFs and could not see anything requiring an alternate.

 

[Captain Halliday]

I heard from Bruce, whose wife Helen works at Pan Am that one of the crew had a blow-up with his wife so all 7 crew took and vote and decided that stopping in Hawaii for the night would give her 24 hours to calm down.

Edit: sorry, this post was supposed to be on Facebook.

 

[p--and--t]

I heard from Bruce, whose wife Helen works at Pan Am that one of the crew had a blow-up with his wife so all 7 crew took and vote and decided that stopping in Hawaii for the night would give her 24 hours to calm down.

Edit: sorry, this post was supposed to be on Facebook.

I thought it was Bruce's second cousin Helena who once applied for a job at Pan Am?

 

[jb747]

Based on the comments on Facebook it seemed weather was an issue but given all other flights landing on Auckland around the same time weren’t impacted it’s possible it could be the weather along the way?

The fact that other aircraft were landing is completely irrelevant. All that tells you is that the weather was above the minima, and it tells you nothing about how it relates to the alternate criteria. In very simple terms, the minima might be a cloud base of 500', but the requirement for an alternate might kick in at 1,000'.

If I recall correctly NZ has a rule that any aircraft arriving from outside of NZ must have an alternate if the destination only has one runway. So, if that's still the case, you'll need to have a look at the weather at the possible alternates.

And we don't ask other aircraft for the weather. That's what ACARS is for.

 

[cambriamarsh]

The fact that other aircraft were landing is completely irrelevant. All that tells you is that the weather was above the minima, and it tells you nothing about how it relates to the alternate criteria. In very simple terms, the minima might be a cloud base of 500', but the requirement for an alternate might kick in at 1,000'.

If I recall correctly NZ has a rule that any aircraft arriving from outside of NZ must have an alternate if the destination only has one runway. So, if that's still the case, you'll need to have a look at the weather at the possible alternates.

And we don't ask other aircraft for the weather. That's what ACARS is for.

Thanks JB, would CHC be an alternate?

 

[bjhearne]

Simple flying is reporting Qantas have confirmed it was due to fog.

Double-Detour: Qantas Flight From New York JFK To Auckland Diverts To Fiji And Sydney Due To Fog

A foggy morning in Auckland meant the inbound Qantas flight was diverted to Fiji and Sydney.

simpleflying.com

 

[jb747]

Thanks JB, would CHC be an alternate?

There aren't all that many choices before you start looking for RNZAF bases. We did, at one stage have approval to use one of them, but I have no idea if that's still the case (or if it would even have been helpful). The problem with Christchurch is that it's 480 odd miles in the wrong direction. The 787 could probably use Wellington, but that always required an alternate.

 

[justinbrett]

There aren't all that many choices before you start looking for RNZAF bases. We did, at one stage have approval to use one of them, but I have no idea if that's still the case (or if it would even have been helpful). The problem with Christchurch is that it's 480 odd miles in the wrong direction. The 787 could probably use Wellington, but that always required an alternate.

NZOH?

 

[Mr Bill]

Simple Flying ....may have the answer...fog in AKL.

 

[henrus]

Simple flying is reporting Qantas have confirmed it was due to fog.

Some things in the article are not 100% true, many from QF4 got rebooked on Fiji Airways services (some direct to Auckland) and the long wait on the tarmac wasn’t 100% true as those onboard had disembarked before I had (my flight arrived from Brisbane at 5:15am) and they’d already pulled luggage off and everyone had gone through immigration (except the flight deck crew who must have taken a bit more time to shut the plane down).

 

[turns_downunder]

It was Fog in AKL that caused the diversion!

 

[markis10]

Had a closer look at the TAF (Aerodrome Forecast issued by BoM) this must have been the concern:

03/10/2024 14:05->

TAF NZAA 031405Z 0315/0418 VRB02KT 9999 FEW040 PROB30 0315/0318 0400 FG BECMG 0321/0323 02010KT=

A 30% probability of fog dropping vis down to 400ft between 1500 to 1800z
That TAF was amended an hour later :

03/10/2024 15:16->

TAF COR NZAA 031516Z 0315/0418 VRB02KT 9999 FEW040 BECMG 0321/0323 02010KT=

The metars show no fog and visibility in excess of 10km all day

SA	03/10/2024 20:30->	METAR NZAA 032030Z AUTO 01006KT 290V050 9999 NCD 14/09 Q1012=
SA	03/10/2024 20:00->	METAR NZAA 032000Z AUTO 01006KT 9999 NCD 13/09 Q1012=
SA	03/10/2024 19:30->	METAR NZAA 031930Z AUTO 03005KT 9999 NCD 12/09 Q1012=
SA	03/10/2024 19:00->	METAR NZAA 031900Z AUTO 02003KT 9999 NCD 10/08 Q1011=
SA	03/10/2024 18:30->	METAR NZAA 031830Z AUTO 09003KT 9999 NCD 08/07 Q1011=
SA	03/10/2024 18:00->	METAR NZAA 031800Z AUTO 07001KT 9999 NCD 08/07 Q1011=
SA	03/10/2024 17:30->	METAR NZAA 031730Z AUTO 03003KT 9999 NCD 08/07 Q1011=
SA	03/10/2024 17:00->	METAR NZAA 031700Z AUTO 02003KT 9999 NCD 08/07 Q1011=
SA	03/10/2024 16:30->	METAR NZAA 031630Z AUTO 02005KT 9999 NCD 08/06 Q1011=
SA	03/10/2024 16:00->	METAR NZAA 031600Z AUTO 03005KT 9999 NCD 08/07 Q1011=
SA	03/10/2024 15:30->	METAR NZAA 031530Z AUTO 03004KT 9999 NCD 09/07 Q1011=
SA	03/10/2024 15:00->	METAR NZAA 031500Z AUTO 02004KT 9999 NCD 09/08 Q1011=

 

[Quickstatus]

That TAF was amended an hour later :

Too late by then. The aircraft turned to NAN about 1500z..

A passenger on the flight (via FB) suggested at least some of replacement crew came from AKL, MEL via SYD and SYD