Jet Diverts to Oakland With Fuel Problems

OAKLAND — An Alaska Airlines passenger jet bound from Southern California to Seattle was diverted to Oakland International Airport on Saturday after pilots noticed a problem with one of the plane's fuel pumps.

Flight 397 from Ontario landed in Oakland at 8:20 a.m. without incident, airport spokeswoman Rosemary Barnes said. Some of the 110 passengers who had to make connections in Seattle were placed on other Alaska flights.

The rest waited for the pump on one of the Boeing MD-80's fuel tanks to be replaced.

As a precaution, the pilot declared an emergency when the fuel warning light came on, Alaska Airlines spokesman Lou Cancelmi said.

"It had to be resolved," Cancelmi said. "You have to have enough fuel to get to Seattle."