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United Airlines Flight Forced to Make Emergency Landing at Military Base

Strong winds and low fuel created a perfect storm.

A United Airlines plane has been forced to land at a military base in Arizona. The 25-year-old jet, which had 160 people onboard, was on its way from Houston to Phoenix when a storm forced the pilot to put it down on a non-commercial runway. Phoenix Sky Harbor had been under a ground stop due to the thunderstorm late Monday, meaning that while planes could take off, many were not allowed to land, 12 News reports. Pilots had to either wait for conditions to clear or find an alternative place to land, and for the United pilot, the best option was Luke Air Force Base in Glendale. The station reports that the Boeing 737 had minimal fuel and was unable to circle, so it was forced to take the unusual step. In a radio conversation with Phoenix air traffic control obtained by 12 News, the pilot is asked how much fuel and how many people are onboard. “OK, we have 160 people onboard… they’re telling me that I cannot land at [nearby airport] Goodyear. Not suitable for our aircraft. Where else would you suggest going, sir?” The controller then ran through the options, saying at one stage, “There’s Luke Air Force Base… but that’s… an Air Force base… if you’re an emergency, you’re an emergency.” The pilot then responds, saying, “Let’s do Luke Air Force Base.”