Dutch flight to Mexico turns back over North America due to volcano because there were horses on board… forcing passengers to endure 11-hour flight back to where they started
- KLM flight KL685 had left Amsterdam Schiphol airport and was over Canada
- It was then forced to turn around and head back to Amsterdam
- Pilots were warned of volcanic activity from Popocatepetl, near Mexico City
A flight from Amsterdam to Mexico with a large cargo of horses on board was forced to turn around over North America and head back to where it departed due to volcanic activity.
KLM flight KL685 had left Amsterdam Schiphol airport and had already crossed the Atlantic and was over New Brunswick in Canada on its way to Mexico City.
But it turned around and headed back to the Netherlands due to volcanic activity from Popocatepetl, just outside Mexico City.
A flight was forced to turn around and head back to Amsterdam due to an eruption at Popocatepetl, just outside Mexico City (file photo)
The diversion meant that passengers spent 11 hours on board just to land back where they started their journey.
There was also a large cargo of horses on board which meant the Boeing 747 could not land at an alternative airport, according to The Independent.
A KLM spokesperson told The Independent: ‘Due to a volcanic eruption in Mexico, the flight KL685 Amsterdam-Mexico returned to Schiphol on Thursday 28 November.
‘The flight landed safely at Schiphol at 2.30am, where the passengers disembarked normally and have been taken care of in Amsterdam. They will be rebooked on an alternative flight.
The diversion meant that passengers spent 11 hours on board just to land back where they started their journey
‘Landing at another airport was not possible, because of the visa requirements of passengers and as there was a large cargo of horses on board.’
Previous volcanic activity has forced flight diversions from Bali, Jakarta, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur when Mount Merapi in central Java erupted in 2018.
‘Ash rain’ fell in the area near the 9,610ft volcano which is the most active in Indonesia.