What the hell is going on?!

Hi guys.

Well it's been a few months of diversion diversion diversion?! Can anyone help as to why the following as happened, as I am trying to compile a database of unusual VS workings (tragic I know...).

STN has been involved in duversions alot lately with the following -
G-VFIZ AND G-VOGE on flights 652 and 301 from Lagos and Delhi respectively, with G-VGAL visiting on VS016 from MCO.

LGW has seen a couple as well with G-VFAR arriving on Dec 3rd from IAD, so too G-VGAS on 20th November with VS251 from Pudong and G-VWKD on Nov 19th with VS8.

Whats going on with all the A340-600's visiting Accra as well? As far as I knew, ACC wasnt big enough to accomodate the A346 or am I wrong. It has up until 8th/9th and 30th December been an A343 operated route only. G-VRED also diverted whilst on VS651 during 9th December.

Turning the above on it's head, why does Virgin utilise A343's on flights dominated by the 346 every now and again. Is it to accomodate for less passenger numbers than usual or a shortage of aircraft?

Anyone any ideas why there has been a couple of chartered flights from LHR-Tampa under VS965/966 flown by VROC & VHOT too?

Other diversion recently i'm interested in are
- Virgin 3 G-VFIT diverted to BGR on October 23rd 2011?
- Virgin 16 G-VROS diverted to BOS on November 3rd
- Virgin 24 G-VBIG diverted to TER on Chirstmas Eve
- Virgin 65 G-VROS diverted to TER also on New Years Eve
- G-VROS also diverting to YYZ on October 25th whilst operating Virgin 74.

Last couple of points - Why was G-VTOP in BDA on December 4th whilst flying VS069? And finally, anyone know what G-VSEA is doing LDE, it seems to be flying circuit trips from LDE-LDE under VS827?!

Sorry about all the questions and points above, as I say, i'm trying to collate a database so all responses and answers are grately received!

Cheers guys
AJWR

[honey lamb]

OK, I'll try and answer as many of them as I can.

Some of the recent diversions to STN are weather related during the time of the severe storms. Some would have been because they were unable to land and then needing to refuel. On one of the threads about the VS16 posted on here a passenger who was on that flight made a comment about it as she (and other nervous passengers) demanded to get off at STN

The interchange of 346s and 343s on certain routes (I can't comment on ACC) is because of passenger (and freight) loads. I am scheduled to fly back from DXB this day week. At the time of booking it was scheduled to be a 346 and for the longest time I was the only passenger with a seat selection in UC. It has been changed to a 343 and currently there are only 11 seats selected

The LHR-TPA flights were to bring the NFL team over to London at the end of October for the NFL game at Wembley

The flights diverted to TER were for medical emergencies as was the flight into BDA. I suspect the other diversions were similar.

The flight number VS827 is a positioning flight and I would suspect they are doing circuits as G-VSEA is in storage at LDE

Wow! Very prompt and informed reponse honeylamb. Thanks very much indeed.
Would you possilby have the link to the thread by the passenger on VS16? I suspect it would make interesting reading.

Just out of interest, how do you know the details of the above flights? Is there somewhere I can find out to help with my database without having to post outrageously long posts in the forum (I'll be sure to come to you in future lol)!

[honey lamb]

Wow! Very prompt and informed reponse honeylamb. Thanks very much indeed.
Would you possilby have the link to the thread by the passenger on VS16? I suspect it would make interesting reading.

Here you are

Just out of interest, how do you know the details of the above flights? Is there somewhere I can find out to help with my database without having to post outrageously long posts in the forum (I'll be sure to come to you in future lol)!

Most of it is from this site and also people have posted links to Aviation Herald which occasionally reports on such incidents

Excellent stuff. Thanks very much, appreciate it much.

I got the link to Flightradar24.com from that thread too. I'm set for th rest of the day now lol. Cheers!

Just in case you were wondering honeylamb, I have just happened upon an image of G-VBIG during the medical diverion to the Azores. Apparently it was due to a probable Heart Stroke (heart attack?!), but conincidentally suffered a bird strike on landing!!

[honey lamb]

Just in case you were wondering honeylamb, I have just happened upon an image of G-VBIG during the medical diverion to the Azores. Apparently it was due to a probable Heart Stroke (heart attack?!), but conincidentally suffered a bird strike on landing!!

Yes, I saw that same image and I think I posted the link here on V-Flyer on the thread about the diversion

Just in case you were wondering honeylamb, I have just happened upon an image of G-VBIG during the medical diverion to the Azores. Apparently it was due to a probable Heart Stroke (heart attack?!), but conincidentally suffered a bird strike on landing!!

Was it this this photo which HL linked to in this thread on 1 January?

Indeed it was