Boeing MD-11 (N1761R)

I really enjoy these older photos! Do you know why this one is heading back to the gate and why they would sit at the hold bars? Thanks for any feedback.

Thanks Brett - I never did hear the official reasons and never went in to ask....99% of the time the jet would depart later in the afternoon, but rarely did they cancel.

I was on a plane flying from one hub to another. The issue was that the plane was scheduled to depart at a certain time, and everyone would be shoved into the plane, and it would taxi out to the hold area, and we would sit there. Plane after plane would pass us. People kept commenting as they looked out the windows. Then we would taxi back to the gate to 'pick up more fuel', and sit there. Then taxi back out, and sit there.

The key was the weather, and/or volume, would result in planes sitting waiting for 'sequencing' from the ARTCC, or approach, or some component of the traffic routing system.

I do remember once getting an announcement that we have been approved to land at ORD, but we have to takeoff in 5 minutes, and everyone should SIT DOWN so we can take off, or we might be held here for a half hour, or more. Sneaky... People stared rushing to their seats. YES!!! And we were closed, buttoned up, and on our way. I'm sure the pilots were chuckling. 'Works every time'...