Flights are diverted for a variety of reasons, but a recent Alaska Airlines flight was diverted due to an unusual event.
Flight AS 3491 (operated by Skywest) was en route from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) in Wyoming on August 8, 2024. However, as the twin-engine Embraer ERJ 175 approached JACt, the pilot admitted that he was not qualified to land at the airport, according to a passenger on board.
The passenger shared his unusual experience on Reddit and also shared the pilot’s confession:
“Hey, I’m really sorry guys, but since I don’t have the necessary clearance to land in Jackson Hole, we’ll have to divert to Salt Lake City, Utah. We’ll keep you updated on next steps.”
Data from flight tracking site FlightAware shows that the plane flew toward Jackson Hole, circled a few times and then diverted to Salt Lake City, 290 miles (466 kilometers) away.
The flight landed safely in SLC and the pilot was replaced by a pilot with landing clearance. The flight eventually continued on to Jackson Hole.
Jackson Hole Airport is the only commercial airport in the United States located entirely within a national park.
According to information on the Jackson Hole Airport website, its unique mountain location presents a “challenging operating environment” for pilots. The airport’s runway elevation is 6,451 feet and is subject to the frequent weather changes typical of a mountain airport.
“Preparation is critical and it is recommended that pilots familiarize themselves with all available information before operating at Jackson Airport,” the airport said.
