United flight UA776 diverted to Richmond

United Airlines flight UA776’s diversion to Richmond fits into a broader East Coast disruption pattern rather than a standalone incident. FlightAware data shows the Boeing 737-900 left Orlando at 5:10 p.m. EDT on May 19 for Newark, diverted to Richmond at 9 p.m., then continued on to Newark and arrived at 11:36 p.m. EDT. Newark-area delays were still being reported on May 21 as airports and airlines worked through weather-related disruption. NorthJersey.com, carried by Yahoo Travel, reported 45 delays and 58 cancellations at Newark on Thursday morning after overnight thunderstorms, while the Federal Aviation Administration’s National Airspace System dashboard showed active delay measures affecting the New York area. (flightaware.com) ### Did UA776 actually stop in Richmond, or was it only listed as diverted? FlightAware’s historical log shows two separate entries for the same aircraft on May 19: one segment from Orlando to Richmond, listed as arriving at 9 p.m., and a second from Richmond to Newark, departing at 9:43 p.m. and arriving at 11:36 p.m. That record indicates the flight did not simply circle or reroute around Newark. It landed in Richmond, remained there for roughly 43 minutes, and then resumed service to Newark. (travel.yahoo.com) ### How long was the delay? FlightAware lists UA776’s scheduled Newark arrival at 8 p.m. on May 19 and its actual Newark arrival at 11:36 p.m. on the diverted itinerary, a delay of 3 hours and 36 minutes. (flightaware.com) A separate FlightAware page for the following day’s operation shows how disruption carried forward. The May 20 Orlando-to-Newark run departed at 11:34 p.m. and arrived at 2:04 a.m. on May 21, more than six hours late, according to the tracker. (flightaware.com) ### What was happening at Newark when this flight diverted? Newark Liberty International Airport was dealing with knock-on effects from thunderstorms moving through the region. (flightaware.com) NorthJersey.com reported on May 21 that the airport was still recovering after overnight weather disrupted the national air traffic system. The FAA’s National Airspace System dashboard on May 21 showed active airport events and forecast traffic-management measures tied to weather and traffic flow in the New York area, including delays at John F. (flightaware.com) Kennedy International Airport and route-management actions affecting the Northeast corridor. ### Why Richmond? Richmond International is a practical diversion field for Newark-bound flights coming up the East Coast because it is close enough to the New York corridor to allow a later continuation once traffic restrictions ease. (travel.yahoo.com) The public Richmond airport tracker confirms the airport maintains live arrival and departure monitoring, though the archived page opened during this reporting did not display the specific UA776 record. (nasstatus.faa.gov) Flight tracking shows UA776 resumed from Richmond the same evening rather than canceling outright. That suggests the crew, aircraft and operating conditions allowed United to complete the trip once a slot into Newark became available, based on the timing shown in the tracker. ### What should passengers watch next? United’s own flight-status page remains the carrier’s public source for route-specific updates, while the FAA NAS dashboard shows whether broader ground-delay programs or traffic-management initiatives are still in effect. (flyrichmond.com) Travelers on Newark flights can also monitor airport-specific arrival and departure boards as recovery continues. (united.com) (flightaware.com)