United Airlines Flight Diverted Due to Door Sensor Issue
DENVER — A United Airlines flight traveling from Hawaii to Denver experienced a diversion to San Francisco on Monday morning due to a malfunctioning door sensor. United Flight 1731, carrying 360 passengers and 10 crew members aboard a Boeing 777, prompted concern for many onboard.
Passenger Sonia Stevens, who was returning from a vacation in Hawaii with her young son, expressed her anxiety during the flight. “I was already feeling the vacation blues, but my anxiety escalated due to recent flight issues,” she said. Stevens described moments of fear as the crew announced a potential technical issue—specifically, an unlatched cargo door sensor.
As the aircraft began its descent, Stevens recounted feeling pressure changes and a rapid decrease in altitude, which heightened her distress. “I was terrified, holding my son, sobbing and shaking,” she shared, noting that she texted her family to express her love in case of an emergency.
Despite the tension, the flight landed safely in San Francisco, where Stevens then rebooked her flight home, arriving in Denver later than anticipated. United Airlines subsequently offered her and her son a $125 flight credit each, a gesture Stevens felt was insufficient given the trauma she experienced.
Katy Nastro, a travel expert, highlighted the legal protections for passengers experiencing significant delays or cancellations under recent Department of Transportation regulations. However, since the flight had originally taken off without a delay, those protections did not fully apply.
A spokesperson for United confirmed the airline arranged alternative travel for the passengers to Denver, ensuring their safety while addressing the mechanical issue.
