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The vast majority of American adults have flown commercial at one point or another. Whether for business or recreation, air travel is the fastest way to cover the continental United States (CONUS). However, you’d never board an airplane knowing that the airline pilot isn’t certified to land at your destination, right? Well, that’s exactly what happened to passengers on an Alaska Airlines flight bound for Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

An airline pilot en route to Jackson Hole Airport forced their Alaska Airline aircraft to divert to Salt Lake City after admitting they were ‘not certified’ to land at JAC

Alaska Airlines/SkyWest Flight 3491 took off from San Francisco without issue. The intended destination for the commercial airplane was Jackson Hole Airport (JAC), the regular destination for Alaska Airlines Flight 3491. However, rather than settling down on JAC’s admittedly tricky tarmac, Flight 3491 diverted to Salt Lake City, Utah. 

The culprit? Alaska Airline Flight 3491’s pilot admitted to passengers that they weren’t “certified” to land at JAC. “Hey, I’m really sorry folks but due to me not having the proper qualification to land in Jackson Hole, we need to divert to Salt Lake City, Utah. We’ll keep you posted on the next steps,” the airline pilot said to passengers.

SkyWest chalked the oversight up to a paperwork issue. Still, the airplane’s passengers had to contend with a stop in Salt Lake City. However, after tracking down a qualified pilot, Alaska Airlines and SkyWest had passengers on the ground in Jackson Hole by 2:55 PM MDT. However, that was the better part of three hours after the original landing time. Understandably, the passengers were less than happy with the explanation.

Flight 3491 “landed for a short time in Salt Lake City to correct a paperwork error related to the flight crew,” the airlines said of the debacle. “The flight continued to Jackson Hole after a delay while a new pilot was secured to operate the flight. All pilots involved were qualified to fly and land the aircraft.” Still, not a great way to start your trip to Jackson Hole.

Source: FOX 10, New York Post

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Erik Sherman

Erik Sherman joined the MotorBiscuit team as an Autos Writer in 2022. An admitted petrolhead and an avid motorcyclist, Erik has owned everything from classic cars to motorcycles to modern driver’s cars. Erik also has extensive experience with military and emergency vehicles, ranging from ambulances and fire engines to MRAPs and M-ATVs. Erik is an eager car and motorcycle reviewer with experience covering everything from sports cars to pontoon boats and jet skis.

Erik holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations (IRG) from the University of Texas at Austin and has studied Chinese, Energy, and European Politics at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. Erik’s background is unorthodox; he is a United States Marine Corps (USMC) combat veteran, water survival practitioner, and a former firefighter/EMT. Additionally, Erik is a regular volunteer and former instructor with the American Red Cross (ARC).