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Delta flight beats Hurricane Irma

A tense series of events as a Delta flight from New York attempts to land in San Juan, Puerto Rico and leave before Hurricane Irma hits

A few flights attempted to squeak into ahead of Hurricane Too late. 2x & 1 flight turning around

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You really want to fly into SJU during a category 5 hurricane, DL431? Everyone else has turned around.

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For what it's worth, the current METAR reports winds of just 12 MPH gust to 22, but conditions are rapidly degrading

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DL431 is going for it. Latest METAR: 35011G20KT

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So, how good is at dispatching? The TAF calls for 25 MPH winds gusting to 40 It's actually 13 gusting to 23 now. This will work

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Delta is hoping for a VERY quick turn once they get to SJU. The return flight is listed as "early," departure bumped up 25 minutes

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already listing the return flight to JFK as "boarding"

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Latest METAR is 33019G30KT, so the wind is picking up but still easily within limits for the immediate time

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Here they go! DL302 now taxiing for takeoff before gets really bad.

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Takeoff! An absolutely amazing job here by forecasters, dispatchers, flight and ground crews. Full flight back up to JFK.

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Total time on ground for this 737-900ER: 52 minutes That includes both taxi-in and taxi-out

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Basically this, but for a 737

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Now DL302 has to climb out of SJU, and they're doing so between the outer band of and the core of the storn. Amazing stuff.

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Don't forget the forecasters, dispatchers, cabin crew, ground crew, airport staff, ATC tower staff, and dozens others making it work

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Well, that's the end of that story. DL302 is reaching the edge of 's outer bands. Guess the flight crew serves lunch now...?

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