Delta flight from Atlanta to Portland diverted to Eugene

EUGENE, Oregon — A Delta flight from Atlanta to Portland was diverted to Eugene Wednesday morning.

Eugene airport officials say this is because Portland International Airport is under construction and a disabled plane was on the PDX’s only active runway.

Airport officials cannot explain why there was a disabled plane on the runway at the time.

“We get diversions. It really depends on where the nearest airport is,” says Andrew Martz, deputy director of the Eugene Airport. “So since they’re here, they can get a little extra fuel in case they have to shoot at PDX for a while.”

He says diversions are normal, often due to weather or construction.

The flight arrived at PDX more than two hours late, just before 1 p.m.