Beechjet 400
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Time Pressure; Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Diverted; General Declared Emergency
Airport; Human Factors; Weather; Procedure
ATC required us to hold over intersection for 40 minutes. After our EFC we were told [our destination airport] was closed indefinitely due to weather. When we checked weather it was VFR. We asked how MMU was and ZZZ1. We were told MMU wasn't an option but ZZZ1 was fine. We were cleared to ZZZ1. When we got to [VOR] we were told to expect holding. We notified ATC that we wouldn't be able to hold the entire time they gave us and that we will need to declare minimum fuel if held for much time. We were then given the hold. [I] and the copilot agreed that when we got to 1200 pounds we would declare min fuel. After one lap in the hold we were at 1;200 pounds of fuel and I declared minimum fuel. We were given a radar vector for the approach into ZZZ1 and we were number two for the airport. Shortly after the radar vector was issued we were told ZZZ1 was closed indefinitely. At this point [all airports in close proximity] were supposedly shut down. We quickly tried to find another option and decided to ask ATC which he told us to divert to ZZZ2. The copilot plugged ZZZ2 into the FMS and it came back saying we would land with twenty pounds of fuel. At this point I also noticed we were at 1;000 pounds of fuel and asked ATC if there was anyway to get into ZZZ1. Answer was no at which point I declared a fuel emergency and need an airport closer than ZZZ2. ATC recommended ZZZ 25 miles away. We agreed that would work and was cleared direct ZZZ. We were given a frequency change at which point we were cleared to another waypoint and then ZZZ. We reminded ATC we had a fuel emergency and that we had the airport in sight. ATC then cleared us for the visual. We landed with no further problems with 700 pounds of fuel on board. Weather at ZZZ1 at XA56Z was reporting winds variable at four knots; 10 SM visibility; clear; 31 degrees C; dew point 22 C; [and] altimeter 29.95. The flight planned time was 2:17 and the actual time was 3:36.
A BE-400XP flight crew had to declare a fuel emergency to obtain a timely approach and landing clearance at their second diversion airport. Both their destination and first diversion airport closed prior to their approach clearance although both were reporting VMC weather.