‘We survived': Passenger relives diverted American Airlines flight from Northwest Arkansas National Airport

Yahoo

2 days ago

HIGHFILL, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — American Airlines Flight 3390 had to divert from Northwest Arkansas National Airport after a turbulent landing Sunday evening.
The flight from Dallas-Fort Worth was scheduled to land at XNA at 6 p.m., according to flight data, but 'at the last instant,' the pilot pulled back up and took the passengers to Tulsa to refuel, passenger Larry Foley said. Radar and weather data from the National Weather Service shows rain was near XNA around the time of the flight's landing and wind gusts were upwards of 43 mph.
'The plane is rocking back and forth, and I'm thinking instantaneously, 'We're going to crash,'' Foley said. 'It was like we were a rocket ship, and he took off into the clouds and got us up there above the clouds really quickly.'
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Foley, a Fayetteville resident, University of Arkansas professor and documentary filmmaker, was in the final leg of his flights back from Italy, after showing screenings of his film, 'Cries from the Cotton Field.'
Foley said the majority of the flight was smooth except for the descent. When the pilot diverted from the landing, Foley said the moment happened so fast, he barely had the chance to process it.
'I think people were just holding their breath,' Foley said.
The second landing attempt at XNA was much smoother, Foley said, thanking the flight attendant as he deplaned. He wanted to thank the pilot and tell them they 'saved an entire plane,' but their door was closed. Foley said he wants to track down the pilot to thank them personally.
Once he regrouped with his wife, Susan, who waited inside the terminal the entire three-hour duration of the diversion, he hugged her a little tighter.
Foley said, despite the frantic few hours during the diversion, he and the other passengers temporarily bonded with one another. He said near him was a family was bringing their daughter to the University of Arkansas for orientation, a woman returning from vacation and a man coming back from a work trip.
'We were all kindred spirits,' Foley said. 'We survived something.'
American Airlines told KNWA/FOX24 the following statement:
'On June 29, American Eagle flight 3390, operated by Envoy Air, with service from Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) to Northwest Arkansas (XNA) diverted to Tulsa (TUL) due to weather conditions at XNA. The flight departed TUL approximately 90 minutes later and landed safely at XNA. Safety is our top priority and we thank our customers for their understanding and our crew for their professionalism.'
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