Republic Operated American Airlines Flight RPA9946 Embraer E175LR from Columbia to St. Louis Diverts and Lands at Nashville International Airport on July 28: What You Need to Know

Written By: Ananya Dey

Ananya Dey

I amAnanya Dey, a Journalism and Mass Communication postgraduate with a Bachelor's degree in Political Science (Honours). I am passionate about travel, writing, and research, with a strong interest in storytelling and content creation.

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July 30, 2026 12:52 AM

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Republic-Operated American Airlines Flight RPA9946 Embraer E175LR from Columbia to St. Louis diverts and lands at Nashville International Airport on July 28. What you need to know. Republic-Operated American Airlines Flight RPA9946 Embraer E175LR from Columbia to St. Louis diverts and lands at Nashville International Airport on July 28. What you need to know. The regional jet left Columbia late and failed to reach St. Louis. Instead, it landed in Nashville. However, officials have not confirmed the cause. Therefore, weather, air traffic, technical concerns and other operational factors remain unverified. Passengers should follow official airline updates for further confirmed details.

What happened during the Columbia-to-St Louis journey?

The service was planned as a regional flight from Columbia, South Carolina, to St Louis, Missouri, using an Embraer E175 identified by registration N422YX, but the aircraft did not complete its published route. After departing Columbia at 4.32 pm rather than the scheduled time of 3.12 pm, it diverted to Nashville, Tennessee, instead of continuing to St Louis.

The supplied details do not show where the aircraft was when the crew changed course, how long it remained airborne, whether it entered a holding pattern or whether it subsequently continued to St Louis. They also do not identify the operating airline, flight number, passenger count, gate information or reason for the diversion, so the event should be reported only as a confirmed operational diversion unless an authorised source releases further evidence.

Why does the reported arrival time require careful explanation?

The record lists a scheduled St Louis arrival of 4.02 pm and also displays 4.02 pm alongside the Nashville diversion, which could appear to suggest that the aircraft landed before leaving Columbia at 4.32 pm. However, Columbia and Nashville observe Eastern and Central Time respectively, creating a one-hour difference that can make locally displayed times look confusing when a flight crosses between time zones.

A 4.32 pm departure from Columbia is equivalent to 3.32 pm in Nashville, so a 4.02 pm Nashville arrival could represent roughly 30 minutes of elapsed time if both entries use local airport time. This is a reasonable interpretation of the schedule, but the image or complete tracking page would be needed to confirm precisely how the times were formatted, meaning the landing time should not be converted into a definitive flight duration without further evidence.

What is known about the aircraft involved?

The supplied record describes the aircraft with the code E75L and registration N422YX, indicating an Embraer E175-class regional jet used for short- and medium-distance services. Aircraft of this category commonly operate routes linking smaller cities with major airline hubs because their cabin capacity, range and airport performance suit domestic regional networks.

The aircraft type does not reveal why the diversion occurred, and nothing in the provided information establishes that N422YX experienced a technical malfunction. A diversion involving an Embraer aircraft should therefore not be described as a mechanical emergency unless the airline, the Federal Aviation Administration or another authorised organisation confirms an aircraft-related problem, warning or abnormal indication.

Why might Nashville have been selected as the diversion airport?

Nashville International Airport is a large commercial airport with passenger terminals, operational support, emergency services and runways capable of receiving an Embraer E175. Its location also makes it a practical alternative along some routes between the south-eastern United States and the Midwest, particularly when continuing to the planned destination becomes unsuitable.

Pilots and airline operations teams may consider the aircraft’s position, remaining fuel, weather, runway availability, air traffic instructions, maintenance support and passenger-handling resources when choosing an alternative airport. However, Nashville’s facilities and geographical position do not prove why it was selected, while the airport’s official website confirms that passengers can access live flight-status information and airline services but does not provide a public explanation for this specific diversion.

Could weather or air traffic have influenced the decision?

Weather and air traffic conditions can affect regional flights by closing arrival routes, reducing runway capacity, increasing aircraft spacing or forcing crews to hold before landing. Thunderstorms are especially important because they may create rapidly changing conditions across several states, making a diversion more practical than continuing towards an airport surrounded by difficult weather.

The FAA Daily Air Traffic Report describes expected nationwide operational disruption and advises passengers to contact their airline for flight-specific information, because a general forecast cannot determine the cause of one particular diversion. The available material does not directly connect weather, congestion or an air traffic control instruction with N422YX, so each remains only a possible operational factor rather than an established explanation.

What could the diversion mean for affected passengers?

Passengers booked for St Louis instead arrived at Nashville International Airport, potentially disrupting connecting flights, business plans, hotel reservations, airport transfers and other onward arrangements. The airline would normally determine whether the aircraft could refuel and continue, whether passengers should transfer to another service, or whether rebooking and ground accommodation were required.

The precise assistance available would depend on the operating carrier, the confirmed reason for the diversion and the length of the resulting delay. Nashville Airport provides flight-status searches, airline information, ground transport and passenger support resources through its official website, but the supplied record does not reveal whether travellers remained aboard, entered the terminal or continued to St Louis later that day.

Does the diversion prove that an emergency occurred?

No evidence supplied with the flight record confirms an emergency declaration, distress call, medical incident, security concern, technical failure or passenger disturbance. Commercial crews can divert as a precaution when continuing is no longer the safest or most efficient operational choice, even when the situation does not involve immediate danger.

The absence of a published reason also does not prove that the event was minor, because airlines and authorities may release limited information while an operation is still being reviewed. Responsible reporting should therefore avoid words such as “emergency”, “failure” or “crisis” unless supported by an official statement, while clearly explaining that the aircraft changed destination and landed at an airport capable of handling the regional jet.

What remains unconfirmed about the Nashville diversion?

The central unanswered question is why the Embraer E175 diverted, because the supplied information confirms only the date, original route, scheduled and actual departure times, aircraft registration and alternative airport. It does not confirm the number of passengers, injuries, technical conditions, weather encountered, air traffic restrictions, crew concerns or whether the aircraft eventually reached St Louis.

The verified conclusion remains straightforward: N422YX left Columbia one hour and 20 minutes behind schedule on 28 July 2026 and diverted to Nashville instead of completing its planned journey to St Louis. Until the operating airline, FAA or airport authority publishes flight-specific details, the event should be described as an operational diversion with an undisclosed cause, and affected travellers should rely on their airline for personalised updates rather than unverified claims.

Republic-operated American Airlines Flight RPA9946 was scheduled to fly from Columbia to St. Louis on July 28, but the Embraer E175LR diverted and landed at Nashville International Airport. The aircraft left Columbia one hour and 20 minutes late and did not complete its planned route. The available record confirms the diversion but does not identify the cause. It does not prove bad weather, air traffic restrictions, a technical fault, a medical event or another emergency. Therefore, the clearest conclusion is that the crew diverted for an undisclosed operational reason. Travellers should rely on American Airlines and aviation authorities for confirmed updates.

Image: American Airlines