Landing: A United Airlines flight from Honolulu to Guam was diverted to Midway because of a mechanical issue
* Island is a barely populated wildlife refuge
* Terrified passengers prayed for their lives
A United Airlines flight from Honolulu to Guam was diverted to the remote island of Midway because of a mechanical issue.
The airline said Friday it flew the 335 passengers and 13 crew members from Flight 201 back to Honolulu. It put Guam-bound passengers on another flight to the U.S. territory.
The Boeing 777 was heading to Guam on Thursday when it was diverted. United says replacement aircraft brought passengers back to Honolulu Friday morning.
Flight: The Boeing 777 was carrying 335 passengers and 13 crew members (file picture)
Diversion: The flight was heading from Honolulu to Guam when it was diverted to the remote island of Midway
It's now a national wildlife refuge home to more than 1 million seabirds, green sea turtles and endangered Hawaiian monk seals.
The island's residents manage the airstrip and wildlife refuge.
Passenger Teresita Smith, who was traveling with several family members on the flight, told reporters that around five hours into the trip the attendants became visibly nervous and a burning smell filled the aircraft.
Once the plane was down, the passengers were taken to an abandoned gym to await a rescue flight
The barely populated island is a national wildlife refuge home to more than 1 million seabirds, green sea turtles and endangered Hawaiian monk seals
'It was terribly frightening. There was no doubt, 100 per cent emotion, of the feeling that the plane was going to go down,' she told KITV.
She said that once the plane was down, the passengers were taken to an abandoned gym to await a rescue flight.
Comment: Another report mentions an 'electrical odour onboard'.