Asia Press Agency

Tag: SkyWest

  • Winter Storm Causes Over 2,000 Flight Cancellations

    Winter Storm Causes Over 2,000 Flight Cancellations

    A powerful winter storm sweeping across 12 states in the United States has resulted in the cancellation of over 2,000 flights on Friday. The adverse weather conditions, including snow, wind, and power outages, have prompted airlines to face operational challenges, affecting travel plans for thousands of passengers.

     

    As of 5.30 p.m. ET, a total of 2,058 flights were canceled, and 5,846 flights were delayed, according to the flight-tracking website FlightAware. Southwest Airlines topped the list of cancellations, with 401 flights affected, followed by SkyWest with 358 cancellations.

     

    Several airlines, including Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines, have issued travel advisories warning passengers of potential disruptions to flights in certain regions. Delta mentioned that operational challenges are expected due to the winter weather in the Midwest, impacting travel on Friday and potentially into the weekend.

     

    In a statement, Delta Air Lines said, “We expect some operational challenges due to the weather in the Midwest today and potentially tomorrow due to the winter weather in the region.”

     

    Southwest Airlines also cautioned passengers that flights in Chicago, Detroit, and Omaha could be impacted by the winter storm.

     

    The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had issued a warning on Thursday, stating that clouds, snow, and wind force could lead to flight delays at specific airports. The weather conditions have created a challenging environment for air travel, leading to disruptions across major airlines.

     

    United Airlines, facing 284 cancellations, noted that some of the flight disruptions might extend into Saturday. The airline is awaiting regulatory approval to resume operating Boeing’s 737 MAX 9 jets, as the FAA initiated a formal investigation into an incident where a cabin panel blew off an Alaska Airlines flight mid-air last week, necessitating an emergency landing.

     

    The FAA’s investigation into the 737 MAX 9 incident underscores the importance of ensuring the safety and integrity of flights. While airlines work to navigate the challenges posed by the winter storm, the regulatory scrutiny adds an additional layer of complexity to their operations.

     

    Passengers are advised to stay informed about the status of their flights, check for updates from airlines, and consider potential disruptions before planning their travel during this period of inclement weather.

  • Alaska and SkyWest Planes Narrowly Avoid Mid-Air Collision

    Alaska and SkyWest Planes Narrowly Avoid Mid-Air Collision

    A potentially catastrophic mid-air collision was narrowly avoided in the stormy skies over Portland International Airport when an Alaska Airlines flight attempted to land on a runway while a SkyWest plane was taking off. The terrifying near miss was captured on video by the YouTube channel VASAAviation, which also provided a visual simulation of the incident.

     

    The two planes reportedly came within approximately 250 vertical feet of each other during the incident. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a near-midair collision is defined as occurring when planes are less than 500 feet from each other. The FAA has launched an investigation into the incident.

     

    The FAA’s initial statement indicated that the pilot of the Alaska Airlines plane had initiated a go-around while attempting to land at Portland International Airport due to strong winds. This action brought the aircraft into close proximity with the SkyWest Airlines flight, which had just departed. Air traffic controllers instructed the Alaska Airlines pilot to turn away from the SkyWest aircraft to prevent a collision.

     

    The audio from the air traffic controller’s communication with the Alaska flight became increasingly panicked as they attempted to guide the aircraft to safety. The controller instructed the Alaska flight to follow the “runway heading” path, while the SkyWest flight was told to turn right as it departed the runway. However, the Alaska flight appeared to misunderstand the instructions and began turning right into the path of the departing plane. The air traffic controller provided increasingly frantic directions and even misidentified the Alaska flight number.

     

    Ultimately, the Alaska flight was rerouted to an airport located 150 miles away and was unable to land in Portland.

     

    Both Alaska Airlines and SkyWest released statements downplaying the incident. Alaska Airlines stated that the crew of Flight 1299 maintained a safe level of separation from the other aircraft and reacted immediately to cockpit indications. SkyWest also asserted that the safety of the flight was not compromised at any point.

     

    The exact number of passengers aboard the two aircraft is not known, and the FAA is continuing to investigate the proximity and circumstances of the near-miss incident.