SLC flights diverted to Idaho Falls

Rare freezing rain in Salt Lake City caused dozens of accidents on roads and even on the airport runway.

A Frontier airplane slid off during a landing Thursday morning, which closed Salt Lake City International Airport for several hours. Six Delta Airlines flights were diverted to Idaho Falls Regional Airport because of unsafe weather conditions in northern Utah.

Airport Director Craig Davis said extra staff had to be called in to help with the large crowds.

Alan, a passenger flying from Bozeman to Salt Lake City was notified mid-flight by the pilot, who told passengers about the diversion to Idaho Falls.

“We had to come here because we didn’t have enough fuel on the plane to circle for that long. They said we’d need two, three hours before we could land,” said Alan.

The diversion caused a major delay for Alan. For the past 12 years he’s been travelling from Bozeman to Zambia for a church mission at an African orphanage.

“We’re flying from Bozeman to Salt Lake City, then onto Atlanta, then onto Johannesburg. So we’re going to miss a couple flights I’m afraid,” said Alan.

Davis said the delays were an inconvenience for travelers, but for the airport, it’s just another dayof dealing with mother nature.

“Hasn’t been that bad. I think we’ve had up to 10 before and today we’ve had six so we handled it,” said Davis.

Salt Lake City International Airport opened late Thursday afternoon. Many flights are still delayed due to the closure Thursday morning. Passengers headed to Salt Lake City are encouraged to check their flight schedules before arriving at the airport.