Posted on 01/31/2023 10:30:29 AM PST by george76
After flying for more than 13 hours, passengers on an Emirates flight bound for Auckland, New Zealand, landed at the same Dubai airport from which they departed.
Passengers boarded flight EK448 in Dubai on Friday, Jan. 27 around 10:30 a.m. local time, reported Fox Business. However, the pilot turned the plane around almost halfway through the 9,000-mile trip and landed back in Dubai just after midnight on Saturday, Jan. 28.
The unusual situation occurred as a result of severe flooding at Auckland Airport, according to the outlet. Videos circulating on social media showed passengers wading through water inside the terminal.
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Did you know the Auckland airport is the only airport in the world to have an immersive underwater experience in the terminal?
Brilliant architecture!
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Authorities declared a state of emergency in New Zealand after torrential rainfall caused flooding that has killed at least four people since Friday, BBC reported. The flooding is the worst Auckland has seen in 100 years.
Airport authorities announced the closure of international flights on Saturday afternoon. “Auckland Airport has been assessing the damage to our international terminal and unfortunately determined that no international flights can operate today,” the airport said in a Jan. 28 statement on Twitter. “We know this is extremely frustrating but the safety of passengers is our top priority.”
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The airport also advised passengers to check with their airlines about flights, as “schedules may be disrupted for several days.” International flights to Auckland did not resume until Sunday morning.
“We regret the inconvenience caused to customers. Emirates will continue to monitor the situation in Auckland and issue updates where required,” Emirates said
They couldn’t land in Australia?
“A circular 9000 mile trip? What is it?”
“A big waste of time, but that’s not important now.”
How about Christchurch or Wellington? Do they have international airports?
“Plane Flies For 13 Hours, Lands At Same Airport It Departed From.”
In the 1500s ships used a COMPASS to figure out what direction to go. Surprised that airplane manufacturers never learned anything from them.
Well, IF they were in a A380, maybe those two airports didn’t have runways that could handle the flight..
I’m just guessing with no info..
The bigger question is why not diverted to one of the other New Zealand international airports.
Aw, man. That would triple-sick.
I’ve been on 14-hour trips from Dubai to DC several times. (Then Immigration, Customs, and a coffee at Dulles before my Houston connection.) I was always so happy to have that long leg behind me. To have to end up where I started from after that long would be hugely disappointing and frustrating.
There’s the whole issue of ground crew, service contracts with airport, maintenance, scheduling of the plane
Its stupid and bureaucratic, but its probably easier/cheaper to simply fly 4500 miles back.
Yes I remember, I had lasagna.
Concur. “Government regulations” “forbid” thinking about logical solutions though.
I saw that!
They could, but there'd be severe visa problems for the passengers.
Did a dry January. My dreams are much more vivid.
The travel nightmares are coming back...
Sounds like being on an AWACS.
They do that all the time.
I would never fly any of their airlines. They are not necessarily skilled. They are a caste system of birthright among the privileged or ruling class. A few yes perhaps, but by large no.
“Thank you for flying Emerites 13 hour sightseeing tour flight…have a great day and don’t forget to tell your friends”.
I took a flight from Lubbock to KC. No big deal. Flew to Albeqerque and off to KC. Tornados in the KC area, so diverted to Iowa. Now on to Minnesota. No go. Diverted to OKC. Tornados there also. Diverted to Love field Dallas. Too much traffic. Diverted to.....Lubbock. 8 hours after we left.
Finally landed in KC about 2:30 the next morning.
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