Delta Airlines 747 Lands at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge
Photos and video available upon request
A Delta Airlines flight from Honolulu, Hawaii, to Osaka, Japan, made an unscheduled stop at the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge on June 16 when pilots noticed a major crack had developed in the windshield of the cockpit. The 747 aircraft touched down safely on the Refuge's Henderson Field about 5:40 p.m. with 359 passengers and 19 crew members aboard.
The Delta crew kept the passengers on board until a second 747 arrived from Japan to deliver parts and mechanics, and fly the passengers back to Japan. Passengers changed planes in the middle of the night and left for Osaka about 5:00 a.m., just before light and the albatross and other birds on the Refuge began to fly.
Given the condition of its windshield, the 747 could not wait until dark to land, which would have been safer because the birds are less active. Unluckily, the plane struck two birds when it landed, one of which damaged the aircraft's wing flap. The crew hopes repairs will take less than 24 hours.
"Bird strikes are always unfortunate and sad, but we are grateful the plane landed safety and everyone is OK," Refuge Manager Sue Schulmeister said of the landing. "It's a good thing Midway is here when needed for these types of situations."
Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge is part of the co-managed Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, which extends some 1,200 miles northwest from the main Hawaiian Islands. The Refuge's Henderson Airfield is the responsibility of the U.S .Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) with major funding and support from the Federal Aviation Administration. The Refuge has seven Service staff and about 50 contractors, including five airport personnel, who support Refuge operations.
Schulmeister credits experienced Defense Base Services, Inc. staff and supporting Refuge staff for doing an outstanding job of working through the night to get the Delta passengers safely off Midway.
Last winter the Refuge was battered by several storms and the tsunami generated by the 9.1 earthquake in Japan. Together these events severely damaged portions of the seawall that protects this important runway. Repair costs are estimated in the tens of millions of dollars.
