The plane quickly gained altitude and speed, reaching 5,000 feet just two minutes after takeoff. Upon departure, it turned northwest and flew over James River. By 11:55, it was traveling at approximately 270 knots and climbing through 10,500 feet. About a minute later, the plane turned west toward Interstate 95 north of Petersburg.
Once it reached 12,000 feet, its climb slowed significantly but continued gradually before halting around15 ,000 feet by11 :58.The aircraft then began a gradual descentto14 ,000feet
"Safely and without incident"
As it flew south of Richmond,theERJ -145descendedfurther.Instead ofturning southtowardCharlotte,it tookasharpturnnortharound11 :05.EastofRichmond,theplane continueditsdescent.By11 :13,itlinedupforfinalapproachatRichmondInternationalAirport(RIC).N942LLlandedsafelyonRunway16at11 :17.
A Piedmont spokesperson confirmedtheincidentinastatementtoSimpleFlyingonTuesday:
"AmericanEagleflight5852 operatedbyPiedmontAirlines withservicefromNewportNewsVa(PHF)toCharlottedivertedtoRichmondVa(RIC)duetoapossiblemaintenanceissueTheflightlandedsafelyandwithoutincidentatRICandtheaircraftwastakenoutofservicetobeinspectedbyourmaintenanceteamWeneverwanttodisruptourcustomerstravelplansandweapologizefortheinconvenience"
There were47passengersonboardandthreecrewmembersNoinjurieswerereportedPiedmonthadanotherERJ -145inRichmondthatcouldbedispatchedtocontinuetheflightN672AEarrivedfromChicagoOHareInternationalAirport(ORD)onSaturdayat23 :00
Whileit isunclearwhichflighttheaircraftwasoriginallyscheduledtooperateitworkedasaviablereplacementAfterdepartingaround14 :40andflyingforaboutanhourN672AEtoucheddownatCharlotteDouglasInternationalAirport(CLT)at15 :49ItarrivedatitsConcourseEgate shortlythereafterTheordealresultedinadelayofaboutthreehoursasPDT5852wasoriginallyscheduledtoarrivearound12 :45
Returningtoservice
TheextentofmaintenancecomplicationsN942LLsufferedisunclearAccording toch -aviationtheregionaljetisa19-year-oldairframeThepossibleissueappearedtobeminorasthereturnedtotheskiesnearly24hoursafterlandinginRichmondDatashowsitwasferriedtoPhiladelphiaInternationalAirport(PHL)onMondayasPDT9978TheplanedepartedfromRICat11 :41andflewforashort36minutesAfterlandingat12 :17ittaxiedtogateF30wheredepartedjust42minuteslaterasPDT5938toBangorMainewentontoperatefourotherlegsvisitingWilmingtonNorthCarolinaBangoronce moreSince deliveryin2005N942LLhassolelybeenoperatedbyAmericanaffiliatesunderAmericanEagleregionalbrandIn2014brieflyEnvoyAir-anothersubsidiaryPiedmonttookoveroperatingownership2023
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