Emily
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https://evergreenstategazette.com/m...to-seattle-more-than-half-way-through-flight/
Mystery of Why Delta Air Flight to China Turned Back to Seattle More Than Half Way Through Flight
Seattle
By Michael Moore On Dec 26, 2021
A Delta Air Lines flight from Seattle to Shanghai mysteriously turned around and returned almost six hours to the United States in what should have been an 11-hour flight to China. The flight cancellation in the air led to a reprimand from the Chinese consulate in San Francisco, which said on its WeChat account that it had “lodged a protest” with the airline.
Delta has since canceled its scheduled Seattle-to-Shanghai service until December 30th at the earliest, but it remains unclear why the airline was forced to turn back in the first place.
According to witnesses on the flight, the pilot indicated that the Chinese authorities announced a change in entry regulations sometime after take-off. There were fears that passengers would no longer be eligible to enter China, so the only alternative was to fly back to Seattle.
...
Less than six hours after take-off and just as the Airbus A330 was entering Russian airspace, the plane suddenly turned around and made its way back to Seattle.
Local Chinese media was told by Shanghai airport officials that entry regulations have not changed for some time and that no sudden changes have been made since DL287 departed. Passengers aboard the flight were so stunned they did not believe Delta staff and police were supposedly called when the plane arrived back in Seattle...
https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/othe...flight-turns-back-to-united-states/ar-AAS9k0B
China-bound passengers in limbo after flight turns back to United States
Amber Wang
21 hrs ago
...
An employee at Shanghai Pudong International Airport said the requirements for international flights remained unchanged in the past few days, and the cancellation of the Delta flight was not related to the airport.
"Other flights arrived normally that day, even some from the US," the staff member said.
Runtu said she was staying at a hotel arranged by the airline and was told that she might not be able to board another flight home until January 9.
She said there were a number of other Chinese students on the flight and they were concerned that re-entering the US could affect their visas.
They were also concerned about the need for further coronavirus tests to board rescheduled flights and whether their health codes to enter China would remain valid.
"I am just taking it one day at a time," Runtu said.
Mystery of Why Delta Air Flight to China Turned Back to Seattle More Than Half Way Through Flight
Seattle
By Michael Moore On Dec 26, 2021
A Delta Air Lines flight from Seattle to Shanghai mysteriously turned around and returned almost six hours to the United States in what should have been an 11-hour flight to China. The flight cancellation in the air led to a reprimand from the Chinese consulate in San Francisco, which said on its WeChat account that it had “lodged a protest” with the airline.
Delta has since canceled its scheduled Seattle-to-Shanghai service until December 30th at the earliest, but it remains unclear why the airline was forced to turn back in the first place.
According to witnesses on the flight, the pilot indicated that the Chinese authorities announced a change in entry regulations sometime after take-off. There were fears that passengers would no longer be eligible to enter China, so the only alternative was to fly back to Seattle.
...
Less than six hours after take-off and just as the Airbus A330 was entering Russian airspace, the plane suddenly turned around and made its way back to Seattle.
Local Chinese media was told by Shanghai airport officials that entry regulations have not changed for some time and that no sudden changes have been made since DL287 departed. Passengers aboard the flight were so stunned they did not believe Delta staff and police were supposedly called when the plane arrived back in Seattle...
https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/othe...flight-turns-back-to-united-states/ar-AAS9k0B
China-bound passengers in limbo after flight turns back to United States
Amber Wang
21 hrs ago
...
An employee at Shanghai Pudong International Airport said the requirements for international flights remained unchanged in the past few days, and the cancellation of the Delta flight was not related to the airport.
"Other flights arrived normally that day, even some from the US," the staff member said.
Runtu said she was staying at a hotel arranged by the airline and was told that she might not be able to board another flight home until January 9.
She said there were a number of other Chinese students on the flight and they were concerned that re-entering the US could affect their visas.
They were also concerned about the need for further coronavirus tests to board rescheduled flights and whether their health codes to enter China would remain valid.
"I am just taking it one day at a time," Runtu said.
