Hundreds of passengers aboard an SAS flight from New York JFK Airport to Copenhagen were left stranded at Newark Liberty International Airport well past midnight after their aircraft turned back over the Atlantic Ocean due to a technical issue. The incident, which involved flight SK916, resulted in a chaotic night for travelers who were left without clear information, access to their luggage, or immediate rebooking options.
The Airbus A330-300, capable of seating up to 262 passengers, had departed JFK at 7:24 PM local time on Friday, October 23, nearly 30 minutes behind its scheduled 6:55 PM departure. The overnight flight was expected to arrive in Copenhagen at 8:40 AM the following morning. However, after spending more than three and a half hours in the air, the aircraft diverted to Newark, landing at 10:58 PM.
Technical Issue Forces Mid-Atlantic Diversion
Passengers reported noticing the aircraft heading in the wrong direction on in-flight maps approximately two hours into the journey. Cabin crew subsequently informed travelers that the captain would make an announcement. The message was that the aircraft had developed a technical fault and the pilots did not feel comfortable continuing the transatlantic crossing.
Fire trucks and ambulances were waiting on the runway upon arrival at Newark, indicating the severity with which the airline treated the situation. SAS later confirmed to Danish outlet TV 2 that the flight returned due to a possible technical fault and that the aircraft was undergoing inspection in Newark. The airline did not specify the nature of the fault or explain why Newark was chosen over the departure airport, JFK.
Passenger Michael Flarup, who was traveling home to Copenhagen with his son, documented the experience on social media. He noted that the handling of the situation after the landing was poor. “Safety comes first. But the handling of hundreds of stranded passengers afterwards really needs to be better. People need clear information and a way to get home, especially in the middle of the night,” Flarup said.
Passengers Left to Arrange Own Accommodation
The ordeal intensified after the plane landed. Passengers waited approximately an hour at baggage claim only to be told their checked luggage could not be removed from the aircraft. They were provided with a QR code to report missing bags, but the SAS system rejected the reports because the passengers had not reached their final destination.
Travelers were initially told to expect new flight details within a couple of hours. However, several hours passed without an update. By the time it was past midnight, Flarup reported that his booking had disappeared from the SAS app entirely. The airline then emailed passengers, instructing them to book their own hotel rooms and offering reimbursement of up to $280 (€250) per room.
Flarup managed to secure one of the last available hotel rooms in the area. He stated that many passengers remained stranded at Newark when he and his son left. Despite making multiple calls to SAS support, he was unable to locate his family’s two suitcases or successfully register them as missing.
EU261 Rights and Potential Compensation
Because the flight was operated by a European airline and bound for Copenhagen, it falls under the European Union’s air passenger rights regulation, known as EU261. Under these rules, airlines are required to provide free hotel accommodation for overnight delays, along with transport between the airport and the hotel. The duty of care also includes providing meals and refreshments during the waiting period, regardless of the reason for the disruption.
Passengers may also be entitled to compensation of $672 (€600) for cancellations or arrival delays of four hours or more on flights covering more than 3,500 kilometers. The aircraft involved, registered as LN-RKR, flew to Copenhagen the following day as flight SK910. Simple Flying contacted SAS for further comment on the incident, but a representative could not be reached before publication.
Source: Simple Flying
