When the East Coast Gets Stormy, PIT Stands Ready

On Sept. 27, two different flights were diverted to Pittsburgh International Airport within seven hours of each other. The minor issues were quickly addressed and both flights continued to their original destinations without incident.

For Pittsburgh International Airport, it’s a common occurrence that’s part of running a reliable airport.

Although the Bureau of Transportation Statistics reports that only 0.24 percent of flights were diverted in 2023, PIT is prepared. Those two diversions brought the total diversions to Pittsburgh to 288 through Sept. 30. In 2023, 383 flights were diverted to Pittsburgh.

Flight diversions occur when an aircraft must alter its destination because of various circumstances, including medical emergencies onboard, inclement weather and mechanical issues. Typical diversions at PIT involve planes landing for what the industry calls a “gas-n-go”—refueling before taking off for another airport.

An American Boeing 777-200ER departs from PIT for New York-JFK after diverting from Winter Storm Finn on Jan. 10, 2024. (Photo by Evan Dougherty)

Planes are most often diverted to PIT because of significant weather events, usually on the East Coast. PIT is far enough away to avoid many of the weather patterns affecting New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., but close enough for diverted flights to complete their routes as quickly as possible once the weather clears.

And with some of the longest runways in the region, PIT can handle aircraft of all sizes.

“If there is a significant weather event on the East Coast, we often expect to accommodate aircraft diversions,” said Jim Moorhead, vice president of Airport Operations at Allegheny County Airport Authority. “Weather doesn’t change the expectations of PIT, always open and safe to operate. Whether it’s a hurricane, tornado, thunderstorm or snowstorm, we’re ready when airlines decide to bring their planes here. We pride ourselves on handling whatever comes, whenever it happens.”

A KLM Airbus A330-300 sits parked at PIT’s gate C55 on July 19, 2022. The KLM aircraft was flying from Amsterdam to Washington-Dulles International Airport when thunderstorms diverted it to PIT. (Photo by Evan Dougherty)

In addition to having personnel on standby, Pittsburgh International also stores blankets, cots and toiletries for passengers affected by diversions and extended delays if needed.

“Our responsibility is to ensure the airlines have the resources they need,” Moorhead said. “At PIT, we have crews available to fuel the aircraft quickly and get customers back to the original scheduled itinerary as quickly as possible.”

The two recent hurricanes in the Southeast didn’t cause any flights to be diverted to PIT. However, the airport did serve as a “port in the storm” for three Allegiant Airlines planes that were parked here as Hurricane Milton hit Florida.

If needed, PIT can handle a large volume of parked aircraft as it did in 2020 at the height of COVID-19. Nearly 100 planes were sent to Pittsburgh as air travel drastically decreased during the pandemic.

“Built as a large hub, PIT can easily and efficiently consolidate many different sized aircraft, including the largest commercial aircraft, without affecting normal operations,” said Moorhead.

Three Allegiant Airbus aircraft sit parked at PIT on Oct. 10, 2024 after repositioning from Florida ahead of Hurricane Milton’s impact. (Photo by Evan Dougherty)