Diverted to Midway

**29palms** · 13-Jul-2014, 01:51 PM

A UAL B-777 diverting to Midway Island because of supposedly a burning odor in the cabin area, setting off alarms. Flight from HNL to GUM. Apparently delayed in HNL before takeoff for the same problem. Pax had to wait a whole 6 hours at a Midway gymnasium to get picked up by another plane sent from HNL. The news went on to say that it was one of the most remotest part of the world. Midway to HNL is not that far. I understand Hawaii and the whole of the Pacific is quite remote, but Midway isn't far from HNL airport. Those pax could have been stranded in a more remote area far from any near airport.

**Tony757** · 14-Jul-2014, 08:10 AM

Yeah, losing that ac off the flight schedule made for multiple headaches and cancellations here in SFO. It finally arrived from HNL this afternoon, and turned around to go back.

**29palms** · 14-Jul-2014, 01:48 PM

What was all that "Burning" smell all about? Did they find any burnt wires? I heard on the news they were talking about a cooling fan. The only thing sounding that close to me is EQUIPMENT COOLING FAN. At that altitude, I thought the fans quit turning and differential air pressure takes over on the equipment cooling. (Routing cabin air pressure over equipment acting as a bit of an outflow valve). Equipment cooling fans I was under impression was a ground only fan. So that to me was highly suspect. Could they have meant a CHILLER? Not saying this was not a needed diversion, but I've seen some serious bogus write ups by flight attendants in the past. I've learned to check out the "Coffee maker" for instance to make sure that it REALLY DOESN'T WORK. I find 50 percent of the time, its operator error. Many write ups on "Mysterious smells".

**Tony757** · 16-Jul-2014, 12:59 AM

I'll see what the history is when I get back to work. I've been out a bit with strep throat

And yes, so many calls/writeups on coffeemakers, if I had a nickel for every one I'd be a rich guy lol! And seat reclines....won't stay upright. 90% of the time the person in the seat is so big, they depress the recline button with their blobs and are not aware of it. (I'm fat too, and have, well used to have blobs, so yes I can poke fun at other fellow fatties lol)