UNITED AIRLINES: Sydney bound LA passengers on UA839 flight greet New Year in Pago Pago, American Samoa

A United Airlines Los Angeles to Sydney flight directed to Pago Pago in American Samoa at around midnight. The diversion was due to a possible oil leak in the right side engine of the Boeing 787-9 Dreamlineraccording to some reports.

A new aircraft is being despatched to collect the passengers – believed to be after flight UA101 flying from Houston to Sydney, completes its current trip. According to The Guardian, this will involve a 12-hour delay for passengers, which will have them celebrating New Year in American Samoa, a territory of the USA. Pago Pago sits on Maoputasi, the main island of the territory, with a population of just 3,656.

2PAXfly Takeout

Well, I did predict this would happen soon, and it looks like they left it until the beginning of 2023 to make the announcements.