United 869 returns to KSFO with fuel emergency

You just can't call it an amergency if you pass by airports pretty close for four long hours back to SFO. Once again ABC like almost every media element trying to snare readers or listeners posted an emergency note when this was just a PRECAUTIONARY LANDING BACK IN SFO.

There has to be more to the story on that which is given. Vancouver, Seattle and Anchorage were all available and all would be capable of handling a 747 for most repairs. If this was just a fuel shortage they could have dropped into PANC and topped up.

Not much on avherald link yet.

http://avherald.com/h?article=48db49ea

If N104UA is still out, they may have had no way to get a 747 full of PAX from SEA/ANC in one trip. I'm told on Sunday they were down 5 747-400. From what I'm reading on airliners.net, the SF fleet week UA 747 demo had a 757-200 on Fri, a 737-900 on Saturday (maybe the UA869 sub), and a 767 on Sun.

Interesting article... "The flight returned safely, but some passengers said they were stranded for at least seven hours at the airport." - If they complained about being stranded at an Airport for 7 Hours... I wonder how much they would be complaining if they were stranded for 7 hours in the middle of the ocean somewhere...

This sounds like more of an article manufactured by the news media making out out to be more than it really is... I do not call this reportable news. The Captain made a decision and stuck by it... That is what he is supposed to do. Better to be safe than sorry.

Looks like they initially wanted to divert to Seattle and then changed their plans again:

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/UAL869/history/20151010/2030Z/KSFO/KSFO