A United Airlines flight out of Sydney bound for San Francisco was forced to divert to Apia due to a medical emergency with a passenger on board.
Samoa’s border control authorities as well as the Samoa Airways ground support team were called in to assist on Mother’s Day Sunday.
The United Airlines UAL 870 had departed Sydney at 11:14am (2:14pm Apia) for a direct flight to San Francisco.
However, three hours after departure from Australia, the Captain announced that “one of the passengers on board needed urgent medical attention”.
“They’ve announced that we are headed to Apia,” one passenger posted on social media.
The diverted flight arrived into Faleolo International Airport at 6:26pm.
One passenger was deplaned and taken to Motootua National Hospital.
“Noone disembarked. Passengers and crew remained on board while our ground staff offered assistance to refill the aircraft,” confirmed Samoa Airport Authority Chief Executive, Tumanuvao Evile Falefatu.
The passenger count was 215 + 12 crew members, a United Airlines media liaison told SGN.
“The flight departed from Apia and made an additional stop in Honolulu to swap crew members. The flight then continued to San Francisco.”
United Airlines is part of the Star Alliance network.
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