LifestyleAmerican Airlines flight to Seoul returns after five-hour journey

American Airlines flight to Seoul returns after five-hour journey

The plane suddenly turned back over the Pacific.
The plane suddenly turned back over the Pacific.
Images source: © Adobe Stock
Monika Sikorska

25 September 2024 15:02

Passengers on an American Airlines flight from Dallas, Texas, to Seoul, South Korea, were shocked when the plane unexpectedly turned back after five hours of travel. "New fear unlocked," commented a traveller who described the situation on her Instagram.

The incident occurred on September 7 on the route from the USA to South Korea. One of the travellers, Jimin Lee, criticized the airline online for not providing explanations for this unexpected decision.

The plane turned back after five hours of flight

In a video posted on Instagram, Lee shows the screen on the seat's headrest, which displays the flight's route. The plane passes over the United States and part of the Pacific before turning back to Texas.

"Relax and enjoy the rest of the flight," the passenger heard from the cabin crew over the intercom. Lee joked that her soul left her body out of nerves at that moment.

The flight was allegedly interrupted because some of the toilets were not working. The traveller explained that the crew needed a screwdriver for repairs, which no one on board had. The plane returned to Dallas nine hours after departure (10 AM ET). Lee then reached Korea on another flight.

The real reason for the plane's return remains unknown

Instagram users sympathized with her and expressed concern. One person wrote,"'Relax' would have made me even more anxious." Another user added, "I hope you didn't have children with you! This is so scary!" Someone else admitted, "I avoid American Airlines at all costs."

Some believe the pilots wanted to avoid panic, so they did not announce the exact reason for the sudden return. Although the problem remains unknown, flight captains often make such decisions for various, sometimes strange, reasons, like someone's diarrhea or a laptop stuck in a seat that could cause a fire.