On December 14, 2018, a Norwegian Boeing 737 MAX 8 bound from Dubai to Oslo diverted to Shiraz, Iran. This diversion was due to an engine issue, and as usual, in a situation like that the priority is to get the plane on the ground as quickly and safely as possible. The 186 passengers and…
Continue reading: Norwegian Plane Finally Leaving Iran After 2+ Months
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Still wondering why they didn't just turn around and go back to Dubai or divert to Doha, considering they weren't even over Iranian soil when the decision was made to divert. Both of those airports would've been much closer, and much better-equipped to handle an emergency and repair a broken plane, than anyplace in Iran.
Good on Lucky for keeping this bizarre story going.
I also wondered why they didn't go back to Dubai. I get safety and all but was it that bad that they could only fly to Iran?
Is James still around? I thought the Norwegian-flight-stuck-in-Iran was his beat? We haven’t heard from James in a while.
Seems particularly strange since the part is for a non-Iranian plane that would leave Iran as soon as it was installed. Perhaps political interference with the approval process, or that there are so many unfilled positions in the Trump-era State Department that things are just not getting done?
Iran is actually a signatory of the ICAO convention and aircraft going to Europe routinely fly over Iran. It’s actually safe to fly over Iran.
Actually, I'm wondering why they couldn't have pulled another [working] engine from another plane, flown *that* to Iran (it's not new direct from Boeing...no license required), and simply order the nw engine from Boeing shipped to Norway...
According to e24.no an hour ago Norwegian have now confirmed that the aircraft is en route to ARN (Stockholm) and will arrive there in a few hours from now.
I can't find it on flightradar24.com thoug.
They are making a big deal about the plane, but what about the passenger experience. I cannot imagine the headaches those passengers went through before being able rescued. If there was one country I would not want to get stranded in would be Iran.
Still on its way, just reached the European continent: https://www.flightradar24.com/NAX8921/
There is nothing wrong with Iran. It is less horrible than Saoedi Arabia. But there is something completely wrong with the US government.
Dylan - read some of the reports - even on here - that the passengers were actually treated very well by the Iranians with no complaints before spouting off nonsense.
In Shanghai stay in Shanghai if USA is soooo bad someone always brings up politics???
The US sanction laws should be revisited as it appears not written to serve their purpose. They cause problems for planes make emergency landing in Iran and also for the Iranian passenger planes simply seek to purchase parts to continue their safe operation in the sky.
There was a recent episode of Planet Money about this incident for anyone interested in learning more.