A Canadair Regional Jet CRJ-200 owned by Air Wisconsin Airlines and operating a United Express flight diverted to Elmira Corning Regional Airport, NY, earlier on Monday. United Airlines attributed the diversion to engine problems. The CRJ landed safely without injury to passengers or crew.
Diversion attributed to engine problems
According to FlightRadar24.com, United Airlines flight UA3788 was pushed back from the gate at Washington Dulles at 11:08 on Monday morning. The aircraft landed in Elmira at 12:36 on Monday afternoon. An FAA spokesperson told Elmira news channel WETM-TV;
"United Airlines Flight 3788, a Bombardier CRJ200, landed safely at the Elmira Corning Regional Airport in Big Flats, NY, today at 12:13 pm local time after the pilot reported an engine problem.
"The flight departed Washington Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, VA, and was en route to the Syracuse Hancock International Airport in Syracuse, NY, when it diverted."
There were 46 passengers and three crew on the flight. The passengers continued their journey to Syracuse on a bus. Syracuse is approximately 90 miles northeast of Elmira.
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United Express CRJ-200 operated by Air Wisconsin Airlines
A CRJ-200 registered as N429AW operated the flight. That aircraft is just over 18 years old. Since arriving at Air Wisconsin Airlines in 2002, N429AW has served on behalf of US Airways Express, American Eagle, and United Express. The aircraft has been flying for United Express since October 2017. This is the first recorded incident involving the plane.
Air Wisconsin Airlines is based at Appleton Airport in Greenville, Wisconsin. The regional airline has been flying since 1965, then using de Havilland Dove aircraft. Air Wisconsin Airlines jumped ship from American Airlines to United Airlines in 2018 after signing a five year deal with the latter airline. Now, Air Wisconsin Airlines flies exclusively under the United Express banner, utilizing 63 Bombardier CRJ-200 aircraft. The average age of these planes is 18.3 years. Air Wisconsin Airlines' aircraft primarily fly for United Express from the Washington Dulles and Chicago O'Hare hubs.
United struggles to make Elmira flights work
Today's incident comes just days before United Airlines axes its regular flights between Washington and Elmira. In November, United said it was quitting the route in January due to low demand. According to United's schedule, the final flights are operating this week. United Airlines will continue to fly to Elmira from Ithaca.
United Airlines has struggled to make its Elmira services work. This is the second time the airline is axing flights there. In 2016, United Airlines ended its flights between Chicago O'Hare and Elmira. Two years later, United had a second go, offering flights from Newark. In March 2019, United Airlines switched the twice-daily flights to Washington Dulles.
According to comments reported in The Star-Gazette and attributed to Elmira Corning Regional Airport Director of Aviation Tom Freeman, United's decision to quit the route came out of the blue.
"They just started six months ago and were doing really well," Mr Freeman said.
"Their loads were 70% full, which is what we would expect. They were hoping for a 75% load in two years, and we were at 70% in six months."
"Just for whatever business reason, they (United Airlines) said the yields weren’t high enough. They were not getting enough on ticket prices."
From January 7, UA3788 will begin operating as the daily 08:00 departure from Providence, RI, to Washington Dulles.
At the time of publishing, N429AW remains on the ground in Elmira. The FAA said they will investigate the incident.