dailynewsnblog
According to a passenger on social media who was flying on American Airlines from 
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to 
New York JFK Airport (JFK), his flight was forced to divert to 
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) due to the Boeing 737-800 running low on fuel. Those onboard had hoped for the stop to be brief and continue onto the Big Apple; however, several delays then forced travelers to change plans.
On Thursday, July 16, American was operating flight AA1049, which was a standard scheduled service to JFK. As the aircraft was approaching New York, it was claimed that the plane was running low on fuel and ended up diverting to Philadelphia. Concerns around crew time-outs and passengers leaving their bags unattended on the plane if they decided to train to New York left the airline scrambling to reorganize passengers and left many frustrated with changing conditions.
American Airlines Flight Diverted To Philadelphia Due To Low Fuel
As suggested by Tyler Jackowski, his flight ended up in Philadelphia on Thursday, when the aircraft was allegedly running low on fuel. The captain had explained to passengers onboard the situation, and that the plane had hoped to remain on the runway briefly to be refueled at a remote stand before continuing to New York.
The captain had promised that if the aircraft were airborne within an hour after refueling, this would not lead to crew time-outs, and the plane could continue to JFK without further disruption. Once the plan had taxiied towards the runway, passengers were hopeful that they would be able to depart without further disruption.
After a further delay, it was advised that the crew had timed out (in 30 minutes, not an hour) and that the plane would be required to return to a gate and have a replacement crew. According to the announcement over the intercom, a replacement crew was being ferried from Chicago, and all passengers must remain on the aircraft at the gate.
Mixed Messages Leave Passengers Confused And Frustrated
According to the passenger reports, the incoming crew from Chicago would lead to an additional delay to the service, and thus passengers who did not have checked bags did have the option to disembark the aircraft and find their own personal means to New York City (Philadelphia is just one hour by train to New York Penn Station).
Those passengers with checked bags who wished to make their own travel arrangements to New York, were told that they would be unable to be unloaded at PHL and would continue on the aircraft to NYC, and passengers with baggage in the hold would need to collect these from the airport or have these mailed to them. Once the decision was made for passengers to get off and make their own arrangements, it is believed the airline was handwriting down those passengers one by one.
The message changed again when another announcement on the intercom stated that those with checked bags were unable to make their own plans and must remain on the aircraft. The chaos ensued when passengers were all asked to deplane and remain in the terminal, and then a further update followed that they could not find the newly assigned crew to operate the flight.
Flight Eventually Made Its Way To New York
Looking at flight data, AA1049 had departed from Dallas/Fort Worth at 1:10 PM on Thursday and had been expected to arrive at JFK by 5:56 PM after the usual three-hour and 45-minute flight. The plane appears to have landed in Philadelphia at 6:22 PM and, after a string of delays and passenger confusion, remained on the apron for almost five hours.
The flight eventually departed from PHL at 10:57 PM and operated the 29-minute flight to New York JFK, landing at 11:26, some five and a half hours later than initially scheduled. According to Jackowski, American has since been in contact with some affected passengers, apologising for the diversion.
American Airlines has been approached for comment; however, an airline spokesperson did not immediately respond to Simple Flying with an update.
