Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200
Confusion; Communication Breakdown; Time Pressure
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Chart Or Publication; Human Factors; Procedure; Weather
On Flight X to ZZZZ. Weather was marginal with thunderstorms in the area. It's our understanding that an aircraft blew a tire on XXR; which in turn closed down the runway. With weather in the area; ATC began holding aircraft. After a while in holding we were eventually cleared in. My First Officer spoke fluent Spanish and began hearing that they were assigning the VOR DME XXL Approach.  We do not have that approach in our manuals at Company.  We briefed the RNV GPS or ILS DME XXR with a side step to XXL. Upon reaching 12;000 feet; we were cleared to intercept a radial for the VOR DME XXL Approach. We advised ATC that we were unable to accept that approach and asked for the RNV or ILS XXR to side step to XXL. There was confusion with ATC with what exactly we were asking. They continued to inform us that XXR was closed; which we were aware of; after many attempts to request the RNV or ILS XXR we were instructed to hold. Meanwhile the entire time this was transpiring we were heading straight into the weather and also worried about the mountains in front of us. After we were given holding instructions; I decided we didn't have enough fuel to sort the mess out; so we requested a diversion to ZZZZ2. After a long and confusing delay on the ground we were able to return to ZZZZ. It would have been a much longer delay and possible overnight if my First Officer weren't fluent in Spanish.If we had the VOR DME XXL/R in our manuals this entire event would have been avoided.
Flight X sent an ACARS stating 'Runway closed do to weather and would be holding 10 minutes.' Actually the runway was closed due to a disabled aircraft with an estimated reopen at XA:30 and that aircraft should expect holding up to 45 minutes. Flight had approx. 10.0 Fuel on Board (FOB). I tried using our flight plan reroute tool but had no success. I next used our computer to achieve fuel burn numbers. The point that I was successful; the flight crew decided to divert to ZZZZ; FOB 8.4 At XA:37 the crew changed their decision and decided to head back into ZZZZ. Facts I knew at this point. The airport was open. Arriving aircraft were going to be given priority. XXR was still closed. What I learned from the crew is they asked for a sidestep to XXL. The tower said that was not possible. They continued to give him a VOR approach.Fact I learned after doing research. In our [EFB] it shows available a VOR approach. When a dispatch chief showed me what approaches are in the pilots EFB; there is no such plate available. At XA:59 the flight again headed to ZZZZ FOB 6.8.I asked them if they were diverting; they responded with a question. Is there a frequency. I could come up on? I was not able to establish that frequency before they landed in ZZZZ. FOB at touchdown. 4.7
After holding for a closed runway and with foreign ATC confusion about available approaches (assigned VOR approach not available in crew's EFB); crew diverted to an alternate airport.