In a surprising turn of events, an Alaska Airlines flight was diverted mid-air after the pilot disclosed that he was not certified to land at Jackson Hole Airport (JAC). The aircraft, operated by SkyWest Airlines, was en route to Jackson Hole when the revelation led to an unexpected detour, according to multiple reports.
Pilot’s admission and flight diversion
The flight, a twin-engine Embraer ERJ 175, was nearing its destination when the pilot informed the cockpit that he was unable to land the plane at Jackson Hole, as reported by Cowboy State Daily, citing a Reddit user who was a passenger on board. Following this, the flight was redirected to Salt Lake City, where it safely touched down, as confirmed by data from FlightAware.
Operational delays and resolution
Upon landing in Salt Lake City, a qualified pilot replaced the unqualified one, allowing the plane to resume its journey. The flight eventually landed at Jackson Hole at 2:55 p.m. local time, more than three hours behind schedule.
The delay was attributed to the need to secure a certified pilot to complete the flight. In a statement to Cowboy State Daily, regional airline SkyWest acknowledged the incident, stating that an administrative error was responsible for the pilot’s lack of certification to land at Jackson Hole. “Flight 3491 landed for a short time in Salt Lake City to correct a paperwork error related to the flight crew,” the airline explained.
“The flight continued to Jackson Hole after a delay while a new pilot was secured to operate the flight. All pilots involved were qualified to fly and land the aircraft; the flight diverted from Jackson Hole due to an internal administrative error and out of an abundance of caution.”
Passenger’s perspective
One passenger, who goes by the username “babecityrecords” on Reddit, shared his account of the unsettling experience in a post titled “Something VERY weird happened on our Alaska flight yesterday: our pilot was unqualified to land??” The passenger recounted that an announcement was made just as the plane was preparing to descend, with the pilot apologizing for the diversion due to his lack of qualifications to land at Jackson Hole.
“Hey, I’m really sorry folks but due to me not having the proper qualification to land in Jackson Hole, we need to divert to Salt Lake City Utah. We’ll keep you posted on the next steps,” the pilot reportedly announced. After landing in Salt Lake City, the passengers were left waiting on the tarmac for about 1.5 hours. The original pilot then exited the aircraft, with the Reddit user describing it as a “walk of shame,” before a new pilot took over for the final leg of the journey. The Reddit user also noted that the landing at Jackson Hole by the uncertified pilot was “the bumpiest landing in the descent I’ve ever experienced.”
The incident has raised concerns about administrative oversights within airline operations, particularly the importance of ensuring that all necessary certifications are in place before a flight. SkyWest’s swift response in securing a qualified pilot and prioritizing passenger safety has been noted, though the incident remains a topic of discussion among those affected.