A United Airlines Boeing 777-200, operating as Flight UA1731 from Kona International Airport in Hawaii to Denver International Airport, redirected to San Francisco International Airport after a cockpit alert regarding an open cargo door. The incident occurred while the plane was over the Pacific Ocean. A spokesperson from United Airlines informed Business Insider that the aircraft diverted to "address a malfunctioning door sensor," confirming that the door was secure during the flight.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will investigate the issue, while the aircraft remains at San Francisco International Airport. A replacement aircraft was sent, reaching Denver approximately seven hours late.
According to the Aviation Herald, the plane was flying at 37,000 feet when the alert for an open door appeared, prompting the crew to descend. The aircraft safely landed in San Francisco at about 03:45. The flight had 360 passengers and 10 crew members, and was 1,150 nautical miles southwest of San Francisco when the false alarm was received. The alternate flight, operated by a Boeing 777-200 (registration N219UA), completed the journey to Denver.