Tokyo-to-Detroit 747 is diverted to Toledo

2/20/2009

A Northwest Airlines flight from Tokyo to Detroit had to divert to Toledo Express Airport for refueling yesterday because of flight delays caused by high winds.

The Northwest 747 landed in Toledo about 1:30 p.m. and resumed its trip to Detroit Metropolitan-Wayne County Airport about two hours later. The plane had 218 passengers plus crew.

Metro spokesman Scott Roberts said the Detroit airport used its east-west crosswind runways exclusively for several hours because strong winds made using the main runways dangerous. That reduced takeoff and landing capacity at the airport, which backed up flights.

Leslie Parker, a Northwest spokesman, said the Tokyo flight was diverted to Toledo as a safety precaution. Two other Detroit-bound flights, one from Minneapolis-St. Paul and one from Madison, Wis., were diverted to Grand Rapids, Mich.