If your destination airport is closed and you have not filed an alternate, what is the best course of action?

• A. Land at the nearest airport without coordination.
• B. Inform your passengers only.
• C. Discuss with crew, dispatch, and ATC to develop a CRM picture and communicate the decision honestly to passengers.
• D. Ignore the issue and wait for ATC to decide.

Answer: (C)

Handling a destination closure without a filed alternate tests your ability to use Crew Resource Management to make a proactive, safety-focused decision. The best path is to bring the whole team together—the flight crew, dispatch, and ATC—to share all relevant information, build a clear picture of the situation, and agree on a plan. This collaborative approach ensures everyone understands fuel status, available alternates, weather, traffic, and potential delays, so the crew can choose a safe, practical option and secure the necessary clearances and approvals. Once there’s a plan, communicate it honestly to passengers, including why a change is needed and what to expect, which helps manage safety, expectations, and trust.

This approach is superior because it uses the organization’s resources—pilots, dispatch, and air traffic control—to assess options and maintain coordination, rather than acting in isolation. It also preserves safety and regulatory compliance by making sure an alternate plan is considered and communicated.

Landing at a nearby airport without coordination risks unsafe sequencing and regulatory violations, informally handling passengers without the full picture can lead to miscommunication, and waiting for ATC to decide leaves the crew with a passive role during a time-sensitive situation.