Everything was going according to plan on the morning of June 3rd. The American Airlines flight from Philadelphia was approaching its destination: Naples Airport. But just 70 miles from landing, passengers received unexpected news — they wouldn’t be arriving in Naples after all, but in Rome.
The reason was as simple as it was surprising: the aircraft was too long for the airport. Just two extra meters were enough to force the Boeing 787-9 to divert to Italy’s capital.
The difference between landing or not came down to a very specific detail: the airport’s RFFS Category 8 rating — short for “Rescue and Fire Fighting Services” — which classifies airports based on their emergency response capabilities. This category allows them to handle aircraft up to 61 meters in length. The Boeing 787-9, however, measures 63.
This aircraft is part of the Dreamliner family, along with the 787-8 (57 meters long) and the 787-10 (68 meters). While all models have the same wingspan — 60 meters — their length increases with the model number, which in turn affects airport requirements. Naples can accommodate the 787-8, but not the 787-9, which requires a Category 9 RFFS, suitable for aircraft up to 76 meters.
Since last summer, American Airlines has operated the Philadelphia-Naples route using the 787-8 — a model explicitly referenced in Naples Airport’s press releases. However, due to operational reasons, the airline opted to send a 787-9 this time, seemingly overlooking the airport’s limitations. The result: a forced detour to Rome.
Once on the ground, the 231 passengers and 11 crew members were informed they would complete their journey by bus — a ride lasting between two and three hours — or by connecting flights operated by ITA Airways. The airline apologized, citing “operational limitations” as the reason for the diversion.
According to CBS, passengers received little more than a brief message offering “apologies for the disruption to your journey.” Not much consolation for those whose travel plans were upended… all because of two extra meters.
