United Airlines Flight Diverts to Portland, Maine Due to Strong Headwinds
A United Airlines flight, number 979, traveling from Edinburgh, Scotland, to Washington Dulles International Airport, made an unscheduled landing at the Portland International Jetport on Sunday afternoon. The diversion was necessitated by stronger-than-anticipated headwinds encountered during its transatlantic journey, which led to higher fuel consumption. The Boeing 757-200 aircraft landed at approximately 4:15 p.m. and remained on the ground for just over an hour while crews added about 5,000 gallons of fuel. Passengers stayed on board during the refueling process, which required the Portland Fire Department Red Units from the Jetport to be on standby. The 757-200 is notably larger than the typical passenger aircraft, such as the Airbus A321, that usually serves Portland, requiring a scissor lift for refueling due to its additional height. After refueling, the flight continued its journey to Washington Dulles.
