Denver diverts 22 aircraft to Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs Airport handled 22 aircraft diverted from Denver International Airport on Monday evening after severe weather disrupted arrivals into Denver, according to airport officials and local news reports. The first diverted flight arrived at about 4:40 p.m., and the last one reached Colorado Springs around 8 p.m. Monday. By 10 p.m., all of the diverted aircraft had departed Colorado Springs, according to the airport. The diversions included 18 domestic flights and four international flights, local outlets reported. The episode briefly turned Colorado Springs into an overflow field for one of the country’s busiest airports. Airport officials said several flights encountered significant turbulence before landing. Emergency crews evaluated passengers on arrival, and one person was taken to a hospital in stable condition. ### Why were Denver-bound flights sent to Colorado Springs? Severe weather in the Denver area forced the reroutes on Monday, Aug. 3, according to Colorado Springs Airport and local television stations. Denver7 and 9News reported that the 22 flights were scheduled to land at Denver International Airport before being diverted south to Colorado Springs. The Colorado Springs Gazette reported that weather conditions in Denver caused the diversions, citing a Colorado Springs Airport news release. The Gazette also said the final diverted aircraft arrived around 8 p.m. Monday. ### How many flights and passengers were affected? Colorado Springs Airport said 22 aircraft were diverted, and Denver7 reported that 18 were domestic and four were international. 9News said the first diverted flight touched down in Colorado Springs at about 4:40 p.m. (denver7.com) Monday. Five passengers received medical attention during the diversion event, according to the airport and the Colorado Springs Fire Department response described by local outlets. (gazette.com) One passenger was transported to a local hospital in stable condition, the Gazette, Denver7 and 9News reported. ### What happened on the ground in Colorado Springs? Colorado Springs Fire Department crews and other emergency responders were deployed to the airport as the diverted flights arrived, according to Denver7 and 9News. (denver7.com) Airport officials said Colorado Springs Airport remained open and operational during the diversions. By late Monday night, the surge had cleared. The Gazette reported that all of the planes had departed two hours after the final diverted aircraft arrived. 9News separately reported that all diverted flights had left Colorado Springs by 10 p.m. (gazette.com) Monday. ### Was this only a Colorado Springs issue, or part of a wider Denver disruption? Denver International Airport faced broader disruption the same day. (denver7.com) Denver7 reported that FlightAware showed more than 800 delays and 31 cancellations at DIA on Monday. The Denver Post also reported that nearly two dozen flights were diverted from Denver to Colorado Springs as severe weather hit the metro area on Monday. (gazette.com) ### What do the weather records show? National Weather Service records for Denver International Airport show hourly weather observations for the period around the disruptions. Those federal records are publicly available through the weather service’s Denver airport observation pages. (denver7.com) As of Thursday, Aug. 6, the clearest official timeline remains the one provided by Colorado Springs Airport: first diverted arrival at about 4:40 p.m. (denverpost.com) Monday, final diverted arrival around 8 p.m., and all diverted flights gone by 10 p.m. Monday, according to airport statements carried by local outlets. (gazette.com) (forecast.weather.gov)