LAX Flights Diverted Due to Military Exercises

Because of military restrictions, airplanes arriving at Los Angeles International Airport between midnight and 6:30 a.m. through this weekend will have to approach from the east, the FAA reported Thursday.

“Military airspace west of LAX will be active through Sunday ... resulting in continued deviations from standard nighttime operations during that time,” said Ian Gregor of the Federal Aviation Administration.

“LAX normally uses ‘over-ocean operations’ from midnight to 6:30 a.m.,” Gregor said. “Aircraft depart to the west and arrive from the west to minimize noise in communities directly east of the airport.

“When the military airspace is active, aircraft are unable to arrive from the west,” Gregor said. “As a result, aircraft will arrive at night from the east, as they do during the day, through Nov. 15.”

An average of about 50-55 airplanes land at LAX between midnight and 6:30 a.m. at this time of year, Gregor said.