A United Airlines Boeing 787-9 traveling with cargo from Guam to Los Angeles made an unscheduled stop on Midway Atoll after a mechanical issue developed.
United 787-9 Diverts To Midway Atoll
The Dreamliner was operating a cargo-only segment from GUM to LAX to deliver much-needed supplies to the U.S. island territory. However, during the flight, UA2781 on April 16th, a technical problem developed and the flight crew opted to divert to Midway Atoll (MDY – also called Midway Island, not to be confused with Chicago Midway Airport, designated by the code MDW).
Midway Atoll is a small, circular atoll roughly equidistant between North America and Asia, about 1,310 miles from Honolulu. It is home to the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and hosts a staff of about 40 from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
During World War II, it was used as a strategic Pacific base in the war against Japan. The Battle of Midway, which took place in June 1942, marked a turning point in the war after U.S. forces defended the atoll from invasion and sunk four Japanese carriers and one cruiser.
Today, there is no regularly scheduled air service to the island. Tourism was once possible, but suspended long before the current pandemic due to budget cuts. Others have joked the only practical way to get there is to hope for an aircraft diversion.
That was the case for this United crew. After landing in Midway, a team of mechanics was dispatched from Honolulu (HNL). The issue was determined to be a faulty shoulder heater and lower recirculating fan. After deactivating the fans and heaters, the aircraft was ferried to Los Angeles via Honolulu.
The 787 has been fixed and is now back in service.
During the layover, the crew took in both World War II battle sites and nature.
CONCLUSION
This was not United’s first diversion to Midway Atoll. In June 2014 a 777 with passengers diverted to Midway while traveling enroute from Honolulu to Guam. The island even keeps a set of airstairs handy precisely for these occasions.
image: United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Some years ago Aloha Airlines had a weekly flight to Midway from HNL. I had the privilege of going there and the funky Midway Atoll passport stamp is one of my prized possessions.
Hi Matthew. What was the flight number and date? Was this UA2781 on April 16?
If so – wasn’t the flight GUM to LAX, and not LAX to GUM, when the diversion happened?
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-airlines-mileageplus/2038144-ua-2781-cargo-only-lax-gum-diverts-midway-atoll-16-april-2021-a.html
Dan, you’re correct. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.
This is my dream diversion. Gander is so over.
What’s up with the back button being disabled on this site lately?
Sorry, we are working on it. And the “reply” function as well.
My dream diversion & passport stamp would have to be Chagos BIOT.
Often, I am in such a hurry and a tight schedule that I do not want diversion. However, I do someday want to have a non-emergency emergency (true emergency means you might die) where the plane lands in Gander, Midway, Wake Island, St. Helena, Diego Garcia, etc. Fargo, ND is another one so that I can potentially step foot on my 50th US state.
I was once on a flight that diverted to Keflavik. Because of that, I later flew there to see more than the airport. When I was in Keflavik on a diversion, I successfully negotiated to be the only passenger let off to shop. I did so with the Captain. I don’t know how I pull that one off. It was Delta. I was only Gold Medallion status.
“…and sunk (sic) four Japanese carriers…” Huh?
Boats
Critical details not widely known (yet) is that the runway and PAPI lights were inoperable (2am), and the pilots had to climb out of the jet without any assistance. It took four hours of emails and phone calls to reach anyone on the island. The ETOPS airport is supposed to be available at all times.
Very interesting. What is your source? Do you have more details you can share with me?
Hello,
Although it’s true that we waited over 4 hours for assistance from the ground staff at Midway, we did not climb out of the aircraft on our own. When the very hospitable ground staff did realize we were on the atoll, they provided us with air stairs, albeit approximately 2 feet short of the height required for the B-787. We spent 2 days on Midway, and it was a wonderful experience. It is my understanding that United Air Lines has now equipped PMDY with satellite phones, in order to better facilitate reaching the island should any future diversion become necessary.
Walter J. Brill
United Air Lines B-787 F/O
In response to KeokiWhat would you expect from a bunch of tree huggers out there on Midway Atoll tasked with the responsibility of keeping an ETOPS landing strip up to standards. You will wake up one morning and Chinese flight controllers will be directing CCP landing forces, completely overwhelming the US sacred battlefield without any protest or oposition. Let that sink in for awhile.
In response to Keoki. What would you expect from a bunch of tree huggers out there on Midway Atoll tasked with the responsibility of keeping an ETOPS landing strip up to standards. You will wake up one morning and Chinese flight controllers will be directing CCP landing forces, completely overwhelming the US sacred battlefield without any protest or oposition. Let that sink in for awhile.
Check out the Spring 2021 Newsletter
https://www.immf-midway.com/newsletter.html
In 1965vI was on a Pan Am Clipper jet from HNL to GUm that stopped to refuel there. It was a very active place then because of Vietnam, I thought it was pretty cool!!