United passengers stranded 3 days in Shanghai
United Airlines passengers stranded since Wednesday in Shanghai; aiming to leave Saturday
More than 200 United Airlines passengers have been stranded for three days in Shanghai in a delay that began with an aircraft mechanical problem.
The passengers were supposed to leave on Wednesday for Newark, N.J. The airline says the Boeing 777 had a mechanical problem so the flight was canceled. The plane was not fixed in time to fly them out on Thursday.
United spokesman Rahsaan Johnson said the plane was fixed by Friday, but a boarding issue delayed the flight. That meant that the crew did not have enough time to make the flight under federal safety rules. So that flight was canceled, too.
The passengers have been staying in hotels. They're expected to be able to leave Saturday. The airline said they will get refunds.
Cancellations because of mechanical issues are not uncommon, and a mechanical problem in a far-away place — more than 13 hours from Newark — can be difficult to fix. However, outside of a blizzard or other major weather event, it's rare for passengers to be stranded so long.
United is a unit of United Continental Holdings Inc.
