When three Hawaii flights to/from San Diego, all experienced flight diversions crossing the Pacific. What causes these flight diversions?

Within 48-Hours, 3 Alaska Air Hawaii Flights Divert Over Pacific

When three Hawaii flights to/from San Diego, all experienced flight diversions crossing the Pacific. What causes these flight diversions?

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86 thoughts on “Within 48-Hours, 3 Alaska Air Hawaii Flights Divert Over Pacific”

  1. Usually when a flight is turned around the airline’s PR department announces the cause: mechanical issue, passenger disruption or illness, etc. since they did not give any reason, Conspiracy Theory me thinks that the pilot or co-pilot had a medical issue. What kind of medical issue, you might ask? Gee, we know that all of the flight crews are vaxxed, otherwise they wouldn’t be employed. And we know that the vaxxes are causing heart issues including myocarditis, strokes, and heart attacks. It sure would be interesting to find out if pilot health was an issue….

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    1. “…And we know that the vaxxes are causing heart issues…” I beg your pardon, Rob, but “we” do *not Know*. If you would be so kind, would you please cite your source(s) for this information? Big mahalos.

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      1. This is standard anti-vaccination rhetoric. There is no truth in science and the original poster is making an improper inference, rooted in no fact. I would encourage the comment post monitors to delete this series of posts before it starts a myth of bigger proportions. When it comes to Hawaii, the island population deserves only the truth to protect their health, not rumor and innuendo.

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        1. It’s the truth. He isn’t lying. He stating a fact. Geez, people. Now then worry about why we aren’t being told the truth. Why is this secret?

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        2. Robert L – while I agree the poster is making an unsubstantiated claim, they still have the right to state their opinion. We have to trust that people reading this blog are intelligent and can discern for themselves what the truth is.

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      2. See page 12. To me that is proof something is happening.
        Alpa.org/publications/air-line-pilot-october-2020/air-line-pilot-october-2020.pdf

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        1. The “In Memoriam” section”? What it shows is a number of deaths in June, July, and August of 2020, which is before Covid vaccines were available.
          It’s more likely that these deaths were partially due to Covid than to a vaccine that didn’t even exist at that time.

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        2. Dee Dee are you talking about the number of pilot and retired pilot deaths in 2020 listed on page 12? Because the vaccine wasn’t out in October 2020 when that magazine article was published

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      3. There are plenty of sources available actually – it doesn’t take much effort at all to find these. Start with the CDC VAERS reporting – it’s shocking actually. I wish you well.

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    2. Oooh! You are reaching way out for that one!
      It would be more interesting if it were an auto-erotic misadventure in the cockpit. Rob, get over it brah…

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      1. Okay, so I just have to reply to this post Earnly as it made me recall a certain scene in Airplane involving the auto pilot……

        Have a great day!

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    3. Not true about all aircrews being vaccinated. A close friend is a Southwest pilot, not vaccinated. That airline, at least, is not making it a requirement.

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        1. Not true, my hubby works for Southwest and they were all required to get vaccinated. There are multiple articles from October 2021 where a federal judge blocked the pilot union’s request to block the mandate. Southwest and other airlines are federal contractors and are subject to federal mandates.

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  2. Alaska’s number 1 priority is safety. It would be interesting to know what caused these diversions (unruly passenger, mechanical issue, etc). Regardless, it’s good knowing Alaska did, and continues to do the right thing when it comes to the safety of it’s passengers and crew

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    1. Alaska does what is required by FAA rules.
      The expression “alaska air does the right thing” is akin to “my car is my friend”

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      1. Alaska’s number 1 priority is safety. So yes while they do need to abide by FAA rules and regulations (as do all US airlines) they also put the safety of passengers and crew at the forefront of everything they do

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        1. FAA guidelines describe what is safe operation of airlines. You are praising alaska for doing something every airline must do.

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        2. While this kind of marketing may reassure some individuals, it is FAA policy imposed upon all operators international and domestic who wish to file a flight plan including USA and it’s territories which compels operators to prioritise human safety as a condition of their certification.
          Alaska Airlines is no different than any other in that regard.
          If I may quote:
          “FAA MISSION
          Our enduring mission is to provide the safest, most efficient aviation system in the world.“

          Just trying to help.

  3. Hello, wondering if the 737- 800 is malfunctioning, it will be interesting to find out the causes of the diversions. Thank you

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  4. Pilots themselves have reported that many of them are sick or injured due to the Covid vaccine. Could this be the cause?

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    1. This is ridiculous. I’m a pilot and I have yet to work with a single other pilot who has made the claim you’re making.

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      1. ummm…Im a commercial airline pilot and Ive been out on medical for a year with heart issues. Problem occurred shortly after second shot. Now you know one.

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  5. seems like there all 737 800 ….maybe they need to think about grounding those planes again ….. thank you for the information you guys put out there… mahalo
    julie

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    1. The 800s were never grounded as a whole, they’ve been operating since the late 90s with an overall excellent safety record. A couple of airlines have grounded theirs briefly due to maintenance issues that are the result of the airlines trying to cut costs and corners, but not anything to do with the design of the aircraft itself.

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  6. We were turned around after 2 hours from Honolulu to San Diego due to, they said a piece of the plane was coming lose, like a door.

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  7. Oh and they all just happen to be Boeing 737 Max eight… When will they be permanently grounded globally? Me or my family will never ever fly on one.

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    1. No. Re-read the article. They are all Alaskan Airlines 737-800s, not MAX8s. 800s are the “Next Gen” family, not MAX family.

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    2. Haven’t heard about any A321s or 330s turning around over the big drink for a while have you? Or 777s?
      (and no, airlines don’t need to disclose reasons for a diversion)

      Thanks Hawaiian Airlines for pulling off in the run up area at OGG to make absolutely certain that we were ready to be over water for 5 hours. I’ll go with Hawaiian or United when I need to get to Hawaii.

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      1. Alaska doesn’t fly Airbus over water.. not ETOPS. Alaska is one of the top airlines in safety and on time arrival. The STATs are there. Do the research. I’m sure those passengers were very thankful they turned around and made sure everything was secure and safe instead of pushing through. Put the passengers and their safety first. If someone is having a medical concern turn around don’t keep going. That’s the difference with Alaska.. doing what’s right.

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  8. Going back to the past on diversions, these were rare to hear. But with ETOPS as the standard rule for operating flights between the mainland and Hawaii, even the most minor mechanical items that wouldn’t be an issue on an overland flight will be a big issue on a transpacific route. Being close to the halfway point when these happen causes even more anxiety. But at the end, the rules of what constitutes a turn around and fly back for whatever reason is much more set these days than even during the 707, 747, DC-10 or L-1011 days.

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      1. Given that the -800s were built before Boeing outsourced and were built at their Renton, WA facility I’d say it is working out OK. Mayne the fact that they are all Alaskan -800s might have more to do with it given Alaskan’s maintenance issues in the past.

        5
        1. What maintenance issues? If you are talking about flight 261, the issues that contributed to that tragic crash have long been rectified. The aircraft mechanics at Alaska Airlines (as well as all other major airlines) take their jobs very seriously and perform each job per the applicable manuals to ensure every aircraft is ready for safe flight

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        2. Nice try do a bit of research they started outsourcing As far back as 2000 with hcl with Rockwell and others and
          and the first 787 rolled out in 2012. They came out of South Carolina.

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