A flight from Madrid to Havana last Sunday was diverted to Miami due to adverse weather conditions in Cuba, making it unsafe for the plane to land. According to a Facebook post by user José Alfonso Almora, heavy rain over the José Martí International Airport forced the diversion of flights from the Spanish capital to Miami.
The Iberia aircraft circled Havana's airport but ultimately redirected to the Florida city. By accessing flightradar24, a live flight tracking website, one can observe the plane's path as it circled for about 20 minutes without being able to land in Havana.
In Miami, the flight remained for approximately an hour and a half before departing for Cuba. It eventually arrived in Havana at 9:45 PM, about five hours later than scheduled.
In the comments section of the post, a Havana firefighter revealed that the operation was without complications or fear. "The José Martí Airport was simply below meteorological minimums. This can happen to any airport. Matanzas was in the same condition. They were diverted to one of their alternate airports, which was Miami," he detailed.
A Cuban resident in Spain noted that her aunt was on that flight. "There was a storm in Cuba, and the airport was flooded, so they couldn’t land in Matanzas or Cienfuegos because the storm was nationwide. They were given clearance to land at the Miami airport because they were running out of fuel. The flight landed in Havana at 9:43 PM; its scheduled arrival was at 4:30 PM, but due to the storm, it couldn’t land and circled above Isla de la Juventud for a long time," she said.
Flight Diversions Due to Weather in Cuba
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding flight diversions caused by severe weather in Cuba.
Why was the Madrid-Havana flight diverted to Miami?
The flight was diverted due to heavy rain over Havana's José Martí International Airport, which made it unsafe for the plane to land.
How long did the flight remain in Miami before heading to Havana?
The flight stayed in Miami for about an hour and a half before departing for Havana.
What were the scheduled and actual arrival times of the flight in Havana?
The flight was scheduled to arrive in Havana at 4:30 PM but actually landed at 9:45 PM due to weather-related delays.