United passengers endured a double diversion and a 28-hour journey over the Pacific

United passengers endured a double diversion and a 28-hour journey over the Pacific

A United Airlines Boeing 777 was involved in an epic transpacific journey.Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesUnited Airlines Flight 870 took 28 hours to reach San Francisco.After leaving Sydney, it diverted to Samoa, then stopped again in Hawaii.Airlines sometimes choose to stop again after a diversion, as it may be easier to find replacement staff.United Airlines passengers spent 28 hours traveling across the Pacific Ocean as their flight m…

United Passengers Face 28-Hour Pacific Odyssey with Double Diversion

Chicago, May 15 - United Airlines Flight UA870, a Boeing 777-200 (Reg. N79011), on May 11, 2025, embarked on what was intended to be a routine 13-hour journey from Sydney, Australia, to San Francisco, California. Carrying passengers across the vast Pacific Ocean, the flight took off from Sydney’s Kingsford Smith Airport at approximately 11:35 a.m. local time. However, an unforeseen mid-air medical emergency drastically altered the course of the …

Hawaii Double Diversion: A Flight’s Unexpected Pacific Journey

A flight bound for San Francisco made two unexpected stops—first in Samoa for a medical emergency, then in Hawaii for entirely different reasons. Here’s how this double diversion unfolded and what it reveals about the challenges of flying over the Pacific.

Medical Emergency Triggers Wild Route Change for Passengers On United Flight to San Francisco

Passengers on a United Airlines flight from Sydney to San Francisco suffered a double diversion on Monday as their Boeing 777 first made an unscheduled stop in Samoa and then ended up in Honolulu before eventually arriving in San Francisco more than 15 hours later than planned. United Airlines flight UA870 departed Sydney at around 11:35 am on May 11 for what should have been a time-traveling journey, crossing the international date line and arr…