Diversions and Disruptions Affect Virgin Australia Flight to Hamilton Island Airport on Monday

Cold, wet and windy weather - rather atypical of the normally beautiful Whitsundays - blew into Hamilton Island on Monday 9 June causing disruptions to some flights into the Island - particularly for Virgin Australia passengers.

A Virgin B737-800 at Hamilton Island Airport last year  (File photo)

I believe that the following diversions and cancellations occurred - information based on web-based flight-tracking software:

Virgin Australia flight VOZ1497 BNE-HTI which was operated by B737-800 VH-VOT diverted and landed at Proserpine / Whitsunday Coast Airport.  The aircraft then positioned empty back to Brisbane as VOZ9902 before continuing to Perth.

VH-VOT holding off Hamilton Island and diverting to Proserpine

Virgin Australia flight VOZ1281 SYD-HTI which was operated by B737-800 VH-YIH diverted and landed at Mackay Airport after being unable to land at Hamo.  It later re-positioned successfully to Hamilton Island and returned to Sydney as the delayed VOZ1282.

Virgin Australia flight VOZ1751 MEL-HTI which was operated by B737-800 VH-YVC also diverted to Mackay Airport after being unable to land.  It appears that VH-YVC attempted to complete the flight into Hamo but again couldn't land and returned to Mackay.  VH-YVC was later noted returning to Melbourne (Tullamarine) as VOZ1751.

Finally, it was noted that all Jetstar Airways flights seemed to land and take off without major problems at Hamilton Island on Monday 9 June.