Weather forces Seattle-bound international flight to land in Yakima

By Terry Murry on Friday, December 22nd, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

YAKIMA – The Yakima Police Department reports teamwork saved the day after responding just after 8 p.m. Wednesday to an Delta Airlines flight from London that was diverted to McAllister Field due to weather conditions in Seattle.

There were 166 passengers and 13 crew members on board. While the plane landed safely, a problem arose as the Yakima Air Terminal does not have U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers on site to process international passengers coming off the plane. YPD stated that meant either the tired travelers would have to stay on the plane or squeeze into the small airport terminal.

After police made a few calls, help quickly responded. Local agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Airport Director Robert Hodgman, airport staff, and eight customs agents, plus one K-9 came to assist.

YPD said a call for pizza was also made so that the international guests could be welcomed to Yakima.

Delta Airlines sent a plane to fly the passengers to Seattle early Thursday morning.

Photo via Yakima Police Department