After 4 hours of being stuck inside United Airlines Flight 201 yesterday on the tarmac in Honolulu Airport, without being told the truth about what exactly was going on (excuses about smoke in the cockpit, waiting for paperwork, waiting for a final decision from head office, a Guest Relations Officer joking on the PA system that she didn't know what was happening either, and a steward confiding that it was a leak in the hydraulic system) we decided to deplane, much to the irritation of the crew, who kept insisting that we would be delaying the flight further if they had to pull our luggage out. We decided to forgo the luggage pullout, and they hastily closed the plane door and retracted the jetway right after we got out, probably fearing others would follow and they would have to pay for everyone's hotel and miscellaneous expenses.
Turns out that UA201, originally headed for Guam, was redirected to the tiny island of Midway due to mechanical problems. A source says that there was a problem with one of the wings, and that the cabin was beginning to get smoky.
My family and I are still stuck in Honolulu without our belongings after yesterday's fiasco. Would like to ask you guys on this board as to how we should proceed with this matter... Thank you in advance.
Originally Posted by
danhunterpost
Awesome? Maybe I am missing some sarcasm but awesome is far from what I think about diverting to Midway Island. Would be a pretty anxious hour or 2 from the time "something" went wrong (over the Pacific!), the 180* turn and then to divert from returning to HNL to Midway or Sand Island, whichever it was, definitely wouldn't describe it as awesome IMO.
Thank you for pointing this out. Having been the only people, aside from another passenger, who got out of UA201 before it flew out of HNL yesterday, we were terribly concerned for the people on that flight. I hope they are all safe and sound in HNL now.
