AA120 Last Night (JFK-CDG) 5 hr late-apparently returned to gate

[Art at ISP]

We have friends who were supposed to be on AA120 last night leaving at 2110. Apparently it either returned to gate or came back to land (couldn't tell from Flightaware if it got off the ground). It then left again around 2:40AM. Other flights left within an hour of schedule so I am not thinking weather (although it is possible).

Would anyone know what happened with this flight?

Thanks--and fly safe!!

 

[Veritas]

Most likely pilots' shenanigans.

 

[eolesen]

Shenanigans from licensed safety professionals? Say it isn't true, V....

 

[Mach85ER]

Veritas and Eolesen,

Maybe you both can check the weather during that period and offer an apology.

 

[eolesen]

Was there weather only for that flight, since the OP says other flights left with no issues?...

 

[wcs]

No, there was weather for all flights.
AAL120 was scheduled to depart at 2110EDT or 0110z.
Here's the weather just prior to departure;
JFK Airport METAR‏@metar_kjfk
KJFK 190055Z 22016KT 2SM R04R/5000VP6000FT TSRA BR FEW008 BKN013 OVC020CB 20/19 A2970 RMK AO2 TSB54 OCNL LTGICCC OHD TS OHD MOV NE P0003

If you're not familar with the abbreviations involved it indicates that at 0055z on the 19th (190055z) or 8:55pm on the 18th the winds
were out of the southsouthwest at 16 knots (18 mph) (22016KT). The visibility was 2 statute miles (2SM) but on runway 4 right
visibility was as low as 5000 feet. (slightly less than a mile) (R04R/5000VP6000FT). The thunderstorm was overhead (OHD) moving to the NE (MOV NE).
Because JFK was using only one runway (22R) for departure, published delay reports by the FAA showed 90 minute delays during
that time. But because the thunderstorm was moving east of JFK it blocked departure paths to the east after that time, increasing delays for European bound flights to over 2 hours in some cases. Westbound flights didn't experience delays as long during that time,

 

[Mach85ER]

Don't underestimate the power of a former AMR cubicle king to pass judgement on the decison making of an American Airlines Captain.

By the way E, while you were at AA, did you ever have total and complete control over +$100 Million dollars in assets, 200+ lives and nearly $1 Billion dollars in corporate liability?

Love to hear it.

 

[eolesen]

I can read METARs just fine, thanks. They don't add the piece of the puzzle which is the eastbound tracks.

Got answers for all the other delays de jour, or are you all spent from the ad hominums?

 

[silverbird007]

Hey Eolesen, Be nice these guys are mostly good Republicans. (at least they used to be)

 

[silverbird007]

Oh Yea Almost forgot! OBAMA 4 more years! (since you brought politics in to the forum)

 

[Kev3188]

Because JFK was using only one runway (22R) for departure, published delay reports by the FAA showed 90 minute delays during
that time. But because the thunderstorm was moving east of JFK it blocked departure paths to the east after that time, increasing delays for European bound flights to over 2 hours in some cases.

I can read METARs just fine, thanks. They don't add the piece of the puzzle which is the eastbound tracks.

In this case, maybe the missing piece is the FAA's Tarmac Delay program? Could be that for whatever reason, this flight drew the short straw while they cleared out the log jam of other flights.

Not for nothing, but it looks like DL had several return for just that reason, though only one TATL flight... They post these the next day on our company website... maybe Jetnet has something similar?

Just a thought...

 

[kirkpatrick]

No, there was weather for all flights.

I can verify that. I was doing that double dog BOS turn and on the final leg home we sat in BOS for two hours on an ATC delay. I was watching the weather all day and the winds were gusting upwards of 38 knots. Landing on 22L we got kicked around quite a bit and at about 100 ft did a go around due to wind shear. On my drive home 1930-2000 I went through a tstorm on the parkway (or it went through me) and on arrival they had issued a tornado warning for SW Suffolk county. A warning, unlike a watch, means they actually saw a radar return that looked like it could be a tornado.

MK

 

[jersey777]

Hey Eolesen, Be nice these guys are mostly good Republicans. (at least they used to be)

Didn't you know that Republicans aren't nice...not even to each other... and only care for their own self interest? Infighting seems to be the nature of their party these days.

 

[WorldTraveler]

I can verify that. I was doing that double dog BOS turn and on the final leg home we sat in BOS for two hours on an ATC delay. I was watching the weather all day and the winds were gusting upwards of 38 knots. Landing on 22L we got kicked around quite a bit and at about 100 ft did a go around due to wind shear. On my drive home 1930-2000 I went through a tstorm on the parkway (or it went through me) and on arrival they had issued a tornado warning for SW Suffolk county. A warning, unlike a watch, means they actually saw a radar return that looked like it could be a tornado.

MK

NYC is seeing severe weather that it normally doesn't... but it is still true that other carriers' operations have not been as affected as AA's in bad weather over the last few months....

 

[jersey777]

I spoke personally to a crew member working this flight. It started with the weather and then there was a problem with a valve in the right engine. They had to wait till after midnight for another plane to come in. Their duty day was over 14 hours....which I believe requires the cockpit crew to waive their legalities...maybe that rule can be verified.