Hawaiian Airlines Cancels Many Flights As A321 Problems Deepen

Another Hawaiian Airlines Flight Diversion Brings Home Distance to Hawaii

A Hawaiian Airlines flight diversion occurred on Monday when HA Flight 37 bound from San Diego to Maui, declared an emergency, then landed in Oakland.  Alex DaSilva, Communication manager for the company said that a cockpit light indicated a possible problem with one of the plane’s two engines. With safety as their highest priority, the pilot diverted to Oakland.

The flight left San Diego at 825. By about 930, Oakland Airport became aware of the issue and likely diversion. An emergency was declared in order to receive priority for landing. The flight, with a total of 185 persons on-board, landed safely at 1050. It was then cleared and resumed its trip to Maui.

Flight 37 launched as daily nonstop service between San Diego and Maui on May 1, 2018, using the company’s new Airbus A321neo aircraft. As far as we know, this is the first issue the company has had with the A321 aircraft since an early delivery airworthiness directive grounded one of its planes.

Fortunately, the flight wasn’t significantly into its trans-Pacific crossing at the time of the problem. Once a flight reaches the approximate mid-way point across the Pacific, it becomes impossible to turn back due to fuel limitations.

Previously, you may recall that in August, a Hawaiian Airlines flight from Maui to San Francisco changed course in mid-Pacific to return to Honolulu. That as a result of an unruly passenger who had allegedly been drinking.

We’ve had near-diversions crossing the Pacific, due to medical situations, but never experienced an actual one. Passengers who were en route to their Hawaii vacations on Monday were undoubtedly upset to return to the mainland with the possibility of an additional travel delay.

Mid-Pacific Aircraft Diversions

Aircraft diversions are always an unwanted experience, albeit sometimes necessary for medical or safety reasons.

When flying to or from Hawaii, or anywhere over long stretches of ocean, diversions become far more complex than when flying over land. There are no diversion options between Hawaii and the US Mainland. Thus, consideration is largely based on the feasibility of returning to Hawaii or continuing to the west coast. The distance between Hawaii and the west coast, 2,500+ miles, represents the longest span without a diversion point in the Pacific.

You may recall that last year we reported on two mid-Pacific Hawaiian Air flight diversion incidents in a single week.

Have you ever experienced a flight diversion? 

Updated 10/24/18.

8 thoughts on “Another Hawaiian Airlines Flight Diversion Brings Home Distance to Hawaii”

  1. Happened to me on a Hawaiian flight From HNL to LAS this past April. It was a red-eye flight departure was @ 10:30pm. About 2 hours into our flight there was a medical issue. Pilot decided to turn flight around. Passengers were surprised to be awoken @ 2am back in HNL.

    After medical issue was taken cared of and flight attendant crew agreed to stay on, we needed to wait for new pilots. We were allowed to deplane (keep in mind nothing is open at 2am). We were on ground for over 3hrs. We Left HNL @ 5am. Nothing was given to us to snack on other than the “one” free service (nuts and a drink) on the plane or the snacks on cart if we want to purchase. I was starving.

    Our original arrival was @ 7am, we arrived @ 11:30am. Nothing was ever given as compensation, just a few apologies announcements given by pilots, attendants, and ground agent. I was frustrated because I had missed an appointment and needed to reschedule.

    Airlines, should have a compensation plan. I did contact airlines to voice my concern. They told me because it was medical there wasn’t much they could do. I do feel for the “ill” passenger but believe Hawaiian Airlines could have accommodated other passengers by either giving “free” entertainment for flight, food voucher upon arrival, or extra bonus miles. Just to show good faith or appreciation of business.

  2. Captains are notorious for being extra cautious in their inspections of transpacific aircraft before departure. Several years ago, my son and I had to return to Seattle twice because of a vibration in one of the engines. Our plane never left Puget Sound as they were assessing the situation on both attempts. I still miss Northwest…they were pioneers in crossing the Pacific.

  3. We were just on Hawaiian 64 out of LAX about a week and a half ago. Flying A320NEO. Took off, flew around a bit, and then the Capt told us there was an issue with the cargo door indicator and we couldn’t pressurize. We circled Catalina Islands for 3.5 hours (A321 has no fuel dump) and then returned to LAX. The problem was fixed and then we flew onto LIH. Here’s the real issue. With a 3.5 loiter time and a 5+ hour flight time to LIH, we came real close to the pilots timing out. If that had happened, we would have been stuck on a different plane or a different day. We were very lucky that the issue was resolved in less than 30 minutes. We literally took off with the pilots telling us we made the time factor by less than 10 minutes. They gave us free wifi. Mahalo to the crew!

  4. Bottom line is the crew obviously acted with the safety of all on board…
    As well as all passengers ultimately made it to their destination with the Hawaiian Airlines Spirit and comfort of the A330.

  5. Left HNL after a delay on AA caused by some electrical issues. Some issues started again in-flight—lights not working, entertainment system messed up, electric seats in FC not working. Finally at about 1 1/2 to 2 hours out the Captain decided to return to HNL. He told us that the vehicles with the red lights would be around the runway when we arrived. We were apparently heavy because they didn’t dump any fuel. My wife and I landed with our seats in a reclined position because the Captain had shut down all non-essential power operations. Uneventful landing. Then the real problem started when 200 people were trying to get a cab to the hotel outside the airport at 1:00 am.

  6. I was diverted midway on a Hawaiian Airlines flight from Honolulu to San Diego. The reason stated was a mechanical issue. We landed back in Honolulu and were told to stay at the gate. Blankets were issued and all passengers (including babies and small children) sat in chairs or slept on the floor as best as possible. If memory serves me correctly, we didn’t leave until around 9:00 the next morning. We were never told why we didn’t depart earlier that morning. The only food offered was a small snack box with cheese and salami. I didn’t hear any complaints from the passengers, notably because being alive in the airport was far more desirable than a tragic sudden end to our flight. I’ve often wondered though, why the airline didn’t open the lounge area for us.

  7. I have experienced an unruly passenger crossing the Atlantic from LAX to Heathrow once. Alcohol was also a problem in this instance as well and the event was essentially a man’s inability to deal with his personal problems over the wife or girlfriend traveling with him.

    About halfway across the Atlantic he became unruly and combative with his lady friend and other passengers who tried to calm him down. He became crazed and tried to open the cockpit door at 35k ft.

    Male passengers earest him and crew subdued the man and wrestled him down and to the back of the plane where he spent the remainder of the flight tied to the jump seat.

    Upon Landing, everyone in the plane was instructed to remain in their seats. British police boarded and took his ass off to the can.

  8. Have I experienced a flight diversion? Yup…was flying Hawaiian from JFK-HNL and we had to dump fuel before we made an emergency landing in Denver.

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