Low fuel causing more diverted flights

CHICAGO, July 14 (UPI) -- An airline passenger organization says high fuel prices are forcing more flights to be diverted because they are in danger of running out of fuel.

In an effort to cut their weight, planes are often carrying the minimum amount of fuel required by the Federal Aviation Administration, The Chicago Sun-Times reported Monday.

As a result, more flights are being diverted to smaller airports if they end up burning too much fuel circling in bad weather or sitting on the runway too long, said David Stamey of the International Airline Passenger Association.

Stamey says the real culprit is the ever-increasing number of delays which cause planes to burn fuel waiting.

Chicago sports radio host March Silverman says he was on a New York bound flight last month that was diverted to Pittsburgh because it was running low on fuel.

Silverman says in announcing the diversion, the United Airlines pilot said airlines "are not filling up their tanks like they used to."