MIAMI- A severe weather event at Miami International Airport (MIA) caused major operational disruptions, forcing British Airways (BA) to divert its A380-operated flight to Orlando International Airport (MCO).
The affected aircraft, operating as Flight BA209 from London Heathrow (LHR), circled over Freeport, Grand Bahama, for nearly an hour before diverting, due to a ground stop issued by the FAA, AIRLIVE reported.
Photo: MCO AirportBritish Airways A380 Diverted to Orlando
British Airways Flight BA209, operated with an Airbus A380 registered G-XLEA, departed London Heathrow (LHR) at 10:00 AM BST.
The transatlantic flight, bound for Miami International Airport (MIA), was scheduled to last approximately 9 hours and 35 minutes. However, severe thunderstorms in South Florida disrupted standard airport operations.
According to FAA-issued advisories, heavy weather conditions reduced visibility at MIA to just one mile, prompting a ground stop for all inbound traffic.
The aircraft initially held in a holding pattern above Freeport, Grand Bahama, but was ultimately rerouted to Orlando International Airport (MCO) after an extended airborne delay.
Photo: Siddh Dhuri | MumbaiPlanesFlight Delays and Operational Impact at MIA
As per data from FlightAware, by 20:20 GMT, at least 368 flights were delayed and 20 were canceled at Miami International Airport due to the adverse weather.
The ground stop had a severe impact on both incoming and outgoing traffic, resulting in system-wide ripple effects across connected hubs.
The diverted British Airways aircraft is not the only flight impacted by the storm system. Multiple carriers were forced to either delay landings or divert to alternate airports within the southeastern United States.
Implications for Return Services
British Airways’ return leg, Flight BA206 from MIA to LHR, is expected to face delays due to the diversion and downstream scheduling disruptions.
The airline has not yet confirmed whether the aircraft will continue to Miami or reposition directly to London once conditions improve.
Featured Image By Clément Alloing (@CAlloing) / X
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