A very unusual Press Release regarding a delayed flight!
Tuesday May 29, 6:22 pm Eastern Time
Press Release
SOURCE: United Airlines
United Airlines Updates Information on Delayed Flight UA 945 from Frankfurt, Germany to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport
CHICAGO, May 29 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines (NYSE: UAL - news) has issued the following update on its delayed flight UA 945 from Frankfurt, Germany to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport:
Flight UA 945 will arrive at O'Hare's International Arrivals facility at 9:30 p.m. this evening (May 29). The company will deploy additional customer service agents to assist customers arriving on this flight and has been working to re-book customers with onward flights with convenient connections wherever possible. Customers who are unable to make their re-booked onward connections will be accommodated at local hotels and have been re-booked to continue their flights tomorrow.
We thank customers on board this flight for their patience and understanding during this difficult situation. United always will put safety first, and will not compromise the safety and security of passengers and crew. In this instance, the crew followed all company procedures in diverting the airplane. Although it resulted in a lengthy delay for customers, it was the right decision.
United will continue to work with officials, including law enforcement, on a full investigation of the incident.
**NOTE TO EDITORS:
-- Flight UA 945 is operated with a Boeing 747-400 aircraft. A total of 296 passengers and 12 crew members are on-board.
-- The airplane left Frankfurt at 2:27 p.m. (local time) on May 28 and was due to arrive at O'Hare at 2 p.m. local time.
-- The aircraft diverted to Keflavik, Iceland, after the crew received information that was interpreted to be a potential threat.
-- The aircraft landed safely in Keflavik and the airplane was thoroughly searched.
-- United dispatched a customer service agent and a mechanic to Iceland. The mechanic was needed to assist with a minor mechanical problem when the aircraft was being towed in Keflavik. The customer agent was on-hand to re-book customers with connecting flights and assist customers.
-- United has no customer service employees in Iceland, but United employees worked hard to ensure that our customers' unscheduled stop was as tolerable as possible. The company provided food and drinks, hotel accommodation, regular flight status updates and arranged for local sightseeing tours of Iceland for interested passengers.
-- United customer service agents will provide "friendship kits" to all customers onboard UA 945 upon arrival at O'Hare. These kits contain coupons valid for future travel, along with other amenities.
-- United customer service agents already have finalized all details regarding overnight accommodations in Chicago for customers who have missed their connections this evening.
SOURCE: United Airlines