SAS Flight SK935 returned to Copenhagen after almost 8 hours in the air due to a technical issue.
COPENHAGEN — Passengers aboard a Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) flight bound for California found themselves back where they started on Saturday evening following a mid-air technical complication over the Arctic.
Flight Overview
SAS Flight SK935, a regularly scheduled long-haul service from Copenhagen (CPH) to San Francisco (SFO), departed Denmark at 1:05 PM CET on January 24, 2026. The flight was operated by an Airbus A350-900, one of the flagship aircraft in the SAS fleet, with registration SE-RSG.
The journey proceeded normally for the first several hours as the aircraft reached its cruising altitude of 38,000 feet. However, as the plane was positioned over the remote terrain of Greenland, the flight crew identified a technical issue that necessitated a cancellation of the trans-Atlantic crossing.
The U-Turn Over Greenland
Instead of continuing toward the West Coast of the United States, the pilots performed a deliberate U-turn. Aviation tracking data showed the aircraft reversing course and heading back toward Europe.
While the aircraft was closer to North American diversion points, airlines often prefer returning to a primary hub—like Copenhagen—for technical issues to ensure easier access to specialized maintenance parts, spare aircraft, and passenger accommodation.
- Total Flight Time: 7 hours and 51 minutes.
- Arrival: The aircraft landed safely on Runway 04R at Copenhagen Airport at 8:37 PM CET.
- Post-Landing: The A350 taxied to Gate C37, where passengers were met by ground staff.
“Safety is our absolute priority,” a spokesperson for SAS noted regarding the diversion. “The decision to return was made as a precautionary measure following a technical notification on the flight deck.”
Impact on Travelers
Passengers on the diverted flight were provided with hotel vouchers and rebooked on alternative flights, including the next day’s SK935 service. The aircraft, SE-RSG, has been removed from service temporarily for a full technical inspection by SAS engineering teams.
UPDATE #1
According to AIRLIVE‘s source, a localized electrical failure affected the In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) and seat controls in the business class cabin. Specifically, some passengers were stuck in a full upright position for the duration of the flight.
UPDATE #2
Despite the Captain assuring passengers the aircraft was flightworthy, the plane turned back halfway through the journey. While the official reason cited was the inability to repair the plane in San Francisco (SFO), crew members were overheard stating the decision was primarily cost-driven, as repairs were cheaper in Denmark.
UPDATE #3
The passenger was stranded for two additional nights, finally departing two days after the original flight. The return coincided with severe storms in the U.S., leading to mass cancellations and rebooking “insanity.”
