SAN FRANCISCO — A Singapore Airlines ultra-long-haul service to Southeast Asia was forced to make a dramatic mid-ocean U-turn on Wednesday after a disruptive passenger onboard prompted the flight crew to turn back to California.
Singapore Airlines Flight SQ31, an Airbus A350-900 registered as 9V-SJC, departed San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on Wednesday, October 14, 2026. Following an extended taxi around the airfield lasting almost an hour, the aircraft lifted off from Runway 28R at around 12:40 p.m. PDT, about an hour behind its scheduled departure time. The flight had been scheduled for a 16-hour and 25-minute journey non-stop to Singapore Changi Airport.
After takeoff, the wide-body jet climbed to its initial cruising altitude of 34,000 feet before later ascending to 36,000 feet as it tracked westward across the Pacific Ocean.
However, several hours into the flight over the middle of the Pacific, an unruly passenger began causing a severe disruption in the cabin. Facing a long stretch of open ocean ahead without suitable diversion airports equipped to handle the aircraft and its passengers, the captain made the decision to abandon the transpacific crossing and turn the aircraft 180 degrees back toward Northern California.
As the aircraft retraced its flight path, the captain contacted ground control to request that paramedics and local law enforcement officers meet the plane upon arrival.
Nearly eight hours after taking off, the Airbus A350 touched down safely back on Runway 28L at SFO.
Upon arrival at the gate, police officers and medical personnel boarded the aircraft to assist with the situation. The remaining passengers and crew were deplaned while authorities conducted an investigation into the incident.
