A United Airlines flight made an emergency landing Monday night at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona after the temporary closure of Phoenix International Airport due to adverse weather conditions left the aircraft with few landing options and dwindling fuel levels.

United Flight 2078, which was flying between Houston, Texas, and Phoenix, Arizona, declared an emergency around 7:53 p.m. The aircraft landed approximately an hour later at the military installation, where commercial flights do not usually operate, AZ Family reported.

Bad weather forced us to look for an alternative airport

According to communications between the crew and air traffic control, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport temporarily suspended operations due to bad weather.

The pilots evaluated the possibility of heading to Goodyear airport, but that alternative was ruled out because the runway did not meet the necessary conditions to receive that type of aircraft.

During the exchange with the air traffic controller, the pilot asked about other available options.

"They are telling me that I cannot land at Goodyear; it is not suitable for our aircraft. Is there any other place that you suggest?" he asked.

The controller responded that Luke Air Force Base was one possibility, although he remembered that it was a military installation.

Given the reduction in available fuel, the crew declared an emergency and received authorization to proceed to the base.

“If it's an emergency, it's an emergency,” the controller responded.

All 160 occupants were unharmed.

The plane was carrying 154 passengers and six crew members, who landed without incident.

According to local reports, the passengers remained inside the plane for approximately two hours while it remained parked at the military base and were not allowed to disembark.

They were later transported by buses to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

Some passengers said they began to suspect a problem when they observed the plane performing several maneuvers before landing.

Gina Sullivan explained that she noticed that the aircraft “went up, down and around” before touching down.

Flight tracking data shows that the plane made three holding circuits before finally heading to the military base.

Another passenger, Damian Bruno, commented on social media that the landing at an Air Force installation was not part of the planned itinerary and thanked the military authorities for their collaboration in facilitating the return of travelers to Phoenix.

United Airlines called the decision the safest option

A United Airlines spokesperson said the landing at Luke Air Force Base represented “the safest course of action” under the circumstances and said the maneuver was completed without a hitch.

The airline also thanked the support provided by the United States Air Force and the staff of Phoenix International Airport to coordinate the transfer of passengers.

After spending several hours at the military installation, the aircraft was transferred again to the Phoenix airport during the day on Tuesday.

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