Commercial airliners divert to Yokota

  • Published
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  Three commercial airliners were diverted to Yokota Air Base, Japan, March 13, 2013, due to strong cross winds at Narita International Airport.

A Delta 767 and two United 777 aircraft landed on Yokota's runway due to dangerous wind gusts.

"Narita IAP received 42-knot cross winds, while Yokota Air Base experienced 30 to 35-knot  winds," said Senior Airman Dimitreus Newell, a weather forecaster/observer with the 374th Operations Support Squadron Weather Flight. "It can be extremely dangerous for aircraft to land when there are strong winds blowing perpendicular to the runway."

Yokota Airfield Management was notified at approximately 2:15 p.m. about the first aircraft to be rerouted to Yokota, said Marlon Odain, Airfield Manager.

"When we received the word, we called the customs office and the 374th Maintenance Squadron's Transient Alert for their assistance," said Odain, who worked in airfield management since 2004. "Once the weather cleared, we made sure their flight plans were filed in the system and the aircraft was ready to fly."

This isn't the first time Yokota received diverted aircraft. During Operation Tomodachi, 11 commercial aircraft made emergency landings at Yokota, Odain said. At first, they thought only one or two aircraft were coming. Passengers were bed down at the Taiyo Community Center overnight and left the next day.

Odain voiced kudos for his airfield management team for their quick response to the situation.

"I have a wonderful team. We have professionals who got notified, ran their checklists and made the proper notifications in a timely manner," said the airfield manager, a native of Inglewood, Calif. "We are prepared to help, and that's what we are here for."

Col. Mark R. August, 374th Airlift Wing commander, echoed Odain's sentiment.

"We were happy to be in a position to help our neighbors during what can be a stressful time," the commander said. "As a military organization, we have to be prepared for the unexpected. This is what we do, and I'm proud of the way our team responded."

Although the wind advisory remained in effect until midnight, the wind gusts slowed down enough for all three aircraft to take off safely for Narita IAP by the early evening.