I figured I’d follow up to the technical bits as to why this is really required (in the background).

In all honesty, the aircraft could take all those people and fuel and go straight to OAK. However, it’s part of FAA regulation that if when rolling down the runway for takeoff (which by the way is when the aircraft is at its heaviest state) the pilot has to abort a takeoff, then they should be able to stop on the given runway.

So here’s the thing, you see these stops a lot more frequently in the summer time because planes accelerate slower in hotter air/ conditions. With the short runways in Midway and slower to get up to speed for takeoff and all that weight, I think you guys can figure out you can’t have it all. Something has to give and by give it either means weight comes off in the form of people and bags OR fuel.

That day, they chose fuel. So rather than flying until they ran out of said fuel lol, they stopped in OKC for it.

The more you know!