On Thursday, United Airlines faced an unexpected challenge as flight UA628 departed Newark for Marrakech. Unfortunately, heavy fog obstructed visibility, preventing the aircraft from landing in Morocco. Consequently, the flight diverted to Tenerife, where it waited for the weather to improve before continuing its journey.
This flight marked the inaugural service from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK), which began on October 24th. United Airlines now operates this route three times a week, making it the only carrier providing nonstop flights between New York City and Marrakech. Passengers onboard experienced a timely departure at 21:44 local time, setting off on a seven-and-a-half-hour journey.
However, after nearly six hours of flying, the crew prepared to land at RAK but encountered thick fog that obscured the runway. As a result, they initiated a missed approach and opted for an alternative landing at Tenerife South–Reina Sofía Airport (TFS), adding roughly one hour to their travel time. The aircraft safely landed at TFS at 10:13 local time.
While waiting for the fog to clear, the aircraft remained on the ground for over an hour. At 11:25 local time, it finally departed TFS, embarking on the 568-mile return flight to RAK. Due to the delayed approach, the plane entered a holding pattern for nearly 10 minutes before safely landing at 14:29 local time without further issues.
This diversion caused significant delays for the return flight to Newark. The delayed flight ultimately took off at 16:13 local time, nearly four hours late. United Airlines successfully reduced the delay, landing at EWR at 19:34, just over three hours behind schedule. The airline’s new service to Marrakech represents a strategic expansion, further strengthening its presence in Africa.
Related stories:
Catch up on the top stories and travel deals by subscribing to our newsletter!
Leave a Reply