Delta Air Lines pilot error shuts down North Carolina airport for hours
A Delta Air Lines pilot mishap caused multiple delays at Asheville Regional Airport in North Carolina.
The Delta flight from Atlanta landed safely without incident but then the pilot took the aircraft onto an under construction taxiway connection where the plane became stuck in mud.
Tina Kinsey, airport spokeswoman, said the aircraft became immovable, and passengers were deplaned from there and bussed to the terminal building.
Flight operations at the small airport were halted for more than three hours.
"We responded by bringing out a mobile ramp, then we worked with Delta to remove the plane and tow it back to the pavement so we could get it parked and get the terminal reopened," she said.
Two Allegiant flights were diverted to other airports and another Delta flight was delayed.
A United flight was also delayed and American Airlines canceled two flights.
The construction work at the airport is expected to continue in to 2018 and is the biggest expansion project since the airport opened more than fifty years ago.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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