OAKLAND, CA — A Lufthansa flight heading from Germany to San Francisco was diverted to Oakland today because of weather delays at San Francisco International Airport, airport officials confirmed.
The plane had to refuel and did so in Oakland before leaving at 3:35 p.m. for San Francisco airport, where it landed safely.
Oakland International Airport spokeswoman Keonnis Taylor said, "This is routine practice when SFO has a weather delay program in place."
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The plane was an Airbus A380, the largest passenger jet in the world, which Oakland International Airport can receive and service on runways, taxiways and at Boarding Gate 1.
Taylor said it was up to Lufthansa whether passengers got off the plane in Oakland or waited to get off at San Francisco International Airport.
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"It is very common for an airline to choose not to deplane passengers while awaiting clearance to arrive at their original destination," according to Taylor.
— Bay City News; AP file image - A Lufthansa Airlines A380, the world's largest passenger aircraft, pulls up to a gate after landing at San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco, Tuesday, May 10, 2011. The A380 made its inaugural flight to San Francisco from Frankfurt. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
