SFO-Bound Flight Nearly Plunges Into Pacific Ocean: Report

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — A San Francisco-bound flight from Hawaii nearly plunged into the Pacific Ocean shortly after taking off in stormy weather late last year in a previously unreported incident, according to The Air Current, a trade publication the covers aviation.

United Airlines Flight 1722 came within 800 feet of crashing into the ocean off Maui’s north coast, the report said.

According to data analyzed by the publication using flight-tracking technology, the Boeing 777-200 took off out of Kahului Airport at 2:49 p.m. local time and plummeted precipitously after reaching 2,200 feet above sea level — falling at a rate of close to 8,600 feet per minute — before plunging below 775 feet, the report said.

The flight recovered quickly and arrived at San Francisco International Airport 27 minutes early, and the 364-seat plane left for Chicago about 2 ½ hours later, the report said.

The plane was inspected after landing at SFO before its next flight, a United spokesman told the publication.

“United then closely coordinated with the (Federal Aviation Administration ) FAA and Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) on an investigation that ultimately resulted in the pilots receiving additional training. Safety remains our highest priority,” the spokesman told the outlet.

Read more in The Air Current