Just updated at 1:00 pm to reflect there are now four diversions we just learned of, including two more today. Thanks to readers Elizabeth S., Mark B., Nico, and Kevin C. for their input and help with today’s updates. We welcome and appreciate your tips!
In addition to today’s flight diversions at Hawaiian and United, we were apprised of additional Hawaii flight diversions at Alaska Airlines and Southwest Airlines. Those are shown below.
Today’s Hawaiian Airlines Hawaii flight diversion.
Hawaiian Airlines A330 Flight 3 from LAX to HNL diverted this morning, returning to Los Angeles about 2 hours after departure. At this time, it is still on the ground. We aren’t sure if the flight is continuing to Honolulu or has been canceled entirely. Reader Nico reported this was caused by a mechanical issue. Coincidentally, editor Jeff was on the Hawaiian flight from LA to Honolulu just two days ago.
On July 22, Hawaiian also suffered a mechanically caused flight diversion en route from San Diego to Maui.
Today’s United Airlines Hawaii flight diversion.
First, the United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Honolulu never made it to Hawaii today. Instead, the captain turned the Boeing 777-200 widebody plane back to San Francisco. This was the second United Airlines Hawaii-related flight diversion in two weeks. As you’ll see in the tally we are keeping below, there have been a seemingly unusual number of Hawaii flight diversions very recently.
This flight, UA1509, departed San Francisco at 5:18 pm local time and was headed across the Pacific when something serious occurred. The plane arrived back in San Francisco, at its starting point, at 8:02 pm.
It was reported to us but remains unconfirmed that a passenger may have suffered a dangerous health situation resulting in the diversion. Mark B. reported the “Reason – vague details about a traveler who was mentally ill and his behavior was becoming erratic.”
Kevin C. added, “I was on UA1509. The guy boarded and tried to take an Economy Plus seat (22B) in front of me. Interestingly he had no bags and was pretty shifty. The lady assigned to that seat came and made him go back to his seat 46K. 1.5 hours into the flight he got up to the door 2 left lav. Soon there were ~4 crew around the lav and moments later he stumbled out and fell to the ground. The crew were inspecting the lav with their flashlights and I saw one crew with the smoke detector panel in the galley. They eventually got him buckled into 16F and you could hear him shouting and cursing the whole way back to SFO. Surprisingly he got off the plane with no resistance (of course, to the tune of other passengers booing him) and we got $60 vouchers.”
The United plane was in the air for just 2 hours 44 minutes from takeoff to landing. That’s less than the approximately 5 hours and 15 minutes needed to arrive in Honolulu. So it was not at the halfway point yet, when the decision was made to return to San Francisco.
Two weeks ago, the other UAL flight diversion incident was of a different medical nature. An apparent food allergy caused that.
Causes for flight diversions vary greatly.
These flight diversions can occur for any number of issues, including medical (both physical and otherwise, related to crew and passengers), weather, unruly activity (which may or may not have been a component), and mechanical issues. Someone recently even mentioned that solar flares might cause more mechanical diversions. Hawaii flights have ETOPS for mechanical problems since this is the world’s longest stretch of ocean without diversion points.
There have been twelve Hawaii flight diversions in just the past 60 days.
3 4 Alaska Airlines flight diversions.
- August 8 OGG-SAN. Mechanical cause.
- August 9 HNL-SAN. Mechanical cause.
- August 10 SAN-HNL. Mechanical cause.
- September 9 SAN-LIH. (Just added)
3 4 Southwest Airlines flight diversions.
- July 25 KOA-LAS.
- August 6 OGG-SMF.
- August 15 OAK-OGG.
- September 5 OGG-LAS. (Just added)
2 United Airlines flight diversions.
- September 4 SFO-SIN (diverted to HNL). Medical cause.
- September 21 SFO-HNL. Medical cause. (Just added)
1 2 Hawaiian Airlines flight diversions.
- July 22 SAN-OGG. Mechanical cause.
- September 22 LAX-HNL. Mechanical issue. (Just added)
Do you know what caused any of these flight diversions? Please let us know.
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Another happening right now UAL1509.
Hi Dale.
Thanks for the tip.
Aloha.
United is practicing being safe rather than sorry.
My flight on Hawaiian was cancelled due to maintenance issues. A few who had pre-boarded had to exit the aircraft. I received a voucher and flew out the next day. I did not mind losing a day in paradise. Better than an ocean landing. “We are sorry that our Hawaiian Airlines flight HA79 on August 18, 2022, from Ontario to Honolulu was canceled due to a maintenance issue.”
Great info for everyones safety benefits. Thank you.
This is becoming highly abnormal and I’m sure it’s eating into the airlines revenue.
Speculation about why planes are diverted is troubling since speculation suggests lack of knowledge.
This is very disturbing. I’m wondering if the mechanical diversions are from lack of sufficient staff to thoroughly inspect the planes between the crafts flights.
On September 15 our flight from Honolulu to Los Angeles had to return to Honolulu about 20 minutes into the flight because of mechanical issues. We were on Hawaiian Airlines
Kevin C. A $60 voucher lol… how generous of them!! Wow, I would have expected much more compensation:(
Like everyone else (I’m sure), I hate reading about these flight diversions to Hawaii. I try to push back those worrisome thoughts when booking or before travel and I guess it’s just the chance one takes when traveling; however I just wish these events weren’t on the rise.
*continued from previous comment*
Upon returning to LAX, there were dozens of fire emergency personnel all lined up with their sirens on. A lot of us on the plane were surprised and realized it was more serious than we thought.
As we got off the plane after a 15 minute intermission of waiting, they had announced back at the terminal that there was a mechanical issue and that the part that needed to be changed wasn’t at LAX.
Our flight is rescheduled to 1:45am.
I would like to give credit to HA and how they’ve handled everything thus far. They provided all passengers a hotel room at the Sheraton at LAX until our rescheduled flight.
My only concern now is — I hope we aren’t taking the same plane!
Now that I’m off the plane and things are a little less chaotic (it was a little nerve wracking), I can elaborate a bit more…
About 45 minutes into the flight, just when food and beverage service was starting, the pilot had come on and announced that we would be returning back to LA. There was a “safety issue that would prevent us from making the long journey to the islands, and so when some parameters aren’t met you just have to call it and turn around.”
The flight attendants were surprised to hear it as well. I am kind of bothered that we never got specific details on what exactly went wrong but I suppose they aren’t obligated to disclose that info.
*character limit is coming up, I’ll continue on another post*
I don’t know about any diversions but wanted to report that we just returned from Maui. We flew Southwest airlines from San Jose direct to Maui OGG. Both flights were smooth and perfect! I was a tad skeptical after reading about some of the Southwest air planes. But all was well and very smooth. I do wonder why there have been so many diversions lately though??
Is there anyway you can privde flight number for the Alaska Airlines flights?
I find your data interesting. It is too small a sample to be statistically valid but based on personal experience, flights to and from California are more prone to medical diversions. Whilst the nearest I have been to a return was a mechanical nevertheless I have been on a number of flights from LAX and SFO where people behaved very oddly and made a thorough nuisance of themselves giving all the appearance of being under the influence of non prescription medication. I suspect many who understand the fact that Altitude and Alcohol do not mix may have yet to grasp altitude and getting high in other ways can be equally problematic. Do you have figures for ORD, DFW, MSP, ATL, JFK?
30 years ago returning from a Business Trip in Hawaii, Morning Departure 09:15 on Delta’s L-1011, had First boarded from the Front Door and as the rest of the Passengers boarded, an elderly person who had been at the Gate in a Wheel Chair w/Oxygen was boarded. Announcements made, we took off and past “the point of no return”, the Pilot got on and advised, we were returning to Oahu, 2.5 hours later on arrival, that same Passenger was de-boarded, we began the journey anew My assumption is, either they could not confirm anyone was at the other end to meet the person, or there was a more grave situation. 10:30PM we arrived too late for connections and were billeted at the Hilton. Inconvenienced, preventable, but a human being, hopefully OK.
Our Alaska Airlines flight was diverted from San Diego to Lihue, Kauai on December 9th, to San Francisco before heading to Kauai.
Hi Rich.
We don’t check data for flights other than to/from Hawaii. And we do that on Flightaware. There’s probably a better data source, but we haven’t found it yet.
Aloha.
I was on a flight from OGG to Las Vegas #2858 on Sept 5 which was diverted to Honolulu because of mechanical reasons. On my voucher it notes it was for delayed reasons but that not the case. We were rerouted to Honolulu after an hour in the air after first being told we were turning around back to OGG for some unknown reason. I’m sorry this is a diverted flight also and should be counted, it was not delayed.
Thank you for your coverage regarding flight diversions. I understand that several of the causes were for medical reasons. However, when the airlines began flying two engine jets to the Islands I admit I was skeptical. I know the airlines received ETOPS certification, but this doesn’t lessen my doubts. Of course, so many problems can occur with mechanical issues, the flight crew must take more cautionary steps to ensure passenger safety while flying over the vast Pacific.
Mahalo!
I think the aircraft should be inspected more. As to illness and other health issues
It can’t be helped.
In regards to mentally ill a clearance and licensed person should be present.
Behavior issues must be enforced to the fullest.
Yes, it was flights to Hawaii from these MidvWest and East coast airports as these airports cover HA, UA, AA and DL primary routes or bases. Keep up the good work.
I’m literally on a HA plane right now sitting at a gate. Our flight (LAX to HNL) turned around 40 minutes into the flight. No explanation other than a “safety issue” but of “no concern” to the passengers. Scary stuff.
Hi Rich.
Thanks. Yes we watch for everything directly to and from Hawaii. And we get great help from readers!
Aloha.
I was on this flight. Another passenger told me some guy took apart the smoke detector in the bathroom and we flew back to have him arrested.
By your listing of Carriers and issues listed it looks like Both Alaskan and Hawaiian are racking up mechanical problems often, are the issues caused by not enough time for proper maintenance and/or repairs? This will only bear itself out, God Forbid, when something more major occurs! Let’s not give SWA any less of a look here, they have at least one diversion that we are not certain of as of today. Airplanes need the Scheduled Maintenance to be done in a timely manner to ensure Safety and Smooth Piloting, they also have Critical Parts that need to be changed when it’s time. Repair Issues can make themselves known at any time and it’s Critical to have mechanics take care of it on the spot! Maybe more questions need to be asked?
Hi Nico.
Thanks for the tip!
Aloha.
Hi Maleko.
Thanks. The reality is that virtually all aircraft are now twin engine so it’s either that or travel by ship.
Aloha.
Have we always tracked fight diversions for mechanical or other emergencies? For comparative purposes please compare to total number of flights for that period per airline and similar data for pre Covid periods. Are we planning on reporting all auto accidents per island?
Flights are pretty important to know about. What possible reason would they post about car accidents for?
I fly almost exclusively on American. Glad to see they are not on the list. Their 777-200’s are older planes but seem to be in excellent condition, from a cabin perspective. Don’t want to jinx it but been flying back and forth for over 50+ years with never a di
I was on UA1509. The guy boarded and tried to take an Economy Plus seat (22B) in front of me. Interestingly he had no bags and was pretty shifty. The lady assigned to that seat came and made him go back to his seat 46K. 1.5 hours into the flight he got up to the door 2 left lav. Soon there were ~4 crew around the lav and moments later he stumbled out and fell to the ground. The crew were inspecting the lav with their flashlights and I saw one crew with the smoke detector panel in the galley. They eventually got him buckled into 16F and you could hear him shouting and cursing the whole way back to SFO. Surprisingly he got off the plane with no resistance (of course to the tune of other passengers booing him) and we got $60 vouchers.
Hi Kevin.
Thanks for the help with the issue. We appreciate it.
Aloha.
Hi SallyAnne.
Thanks for letting us know! We’ve updated the article accordingly.
Aloha.
Our flight on Hawaiian #24 on 9/15 returned to gate after takeoff (20 min) to unload passengers moved to extra legroom and would not go back to original seats.