Low-fuel Icelandair 757 incident exposed flaws in airports’ diversion readiness

Icelandic investigators probing a low-fuel situation involving an Icelandair Boeing 757-200 in October 2019 found weaknesses in the ability of the country’s airports to handle a diversion. The aircraft, inbound from Seattle, had been conducting its approach to Reykjavik Keflavik airport’s runway 01 when a BAe 125 executive jet experienced an excursion while landing on the same runway. This closed the runway and, since the airport’s runway 10/28 had not been maintained overnight, effectively shut Keflavik to traffic. The aircraft was instructed to hold at 6,000ft at the SOPAR waypoint to the south of the airport. Icelandic investigation authority Rannsoknarnefnd Samgonguslysa, in a 7 December final report, says the crew discussed the situation, noting that they did not have much fuel for holding, and asked Keflavik approach control about braking action at the smaller regional Reykjavik airport – the flight’s designated alternate. Although braking measurements had already been performed twice at Reykjavik, this was not known to Keflavik approach, and the crew was informed that obtaining the braking information would take half an hour. The 757’s crew responded that this was too long to wait, given the fuel status, and that landing at Keflavik was the only option. While the flight was cleared for approach to runway 01, Keflavik tower controllers were not willing to give landing clearance – owing to the BAe 125 excursion – unless the crew declared an emergency. Story has more.<br/>