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.
Flightradar24 data indicated that the aircraft reduced its altitude to below 10,000 feet, a standard measure in situations where depressurization might be an issue, ensuring the cabin remained filled with breathable air. Although the sensor was faulty, it triggered necessary precautions due to the potential risk of having an open door while airborne.
Flight UA1731 is a daily scheduled service from Kona to Denver, typically departing at 19:35 with a flight duration of roughly six hours and 30 minutes. After three hours in the air, the aircraft, identified as a Boeing 777-200 with registration N780UA, landed in San Francisco. This plane, delivered in 1996 and 28.5 years old, accommodates 364 passengers in a high-density configuration suitable for long domestic routes.
United Airlines has been operating the Boeing 777 since June 1995, when it became the launch customer for this model. The airline’s fleet includes 74 Boeing 777-200s and 22 Boeing 777-300ERs according to aviation data from Planespotters.net.
In a related event, another Boeing 777-200 from United Airlines, flying as Flight UA1321 from Newark Liberty International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport, had to return to Newark due to a mechanical issue. The aircraft, carrying 362 passengers and 10 crew members, was about 45 minutes into its flight before rerouting. It safely landed about an hour later, after circling New Jersey. Although emergency crews were on alert, their assistance was not needed. United Airlines arranged for a replacement aircraft to complete the journey.
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