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Some passengers aboard a plane went back in time — sort of.
This was noted by WJLA transportation reporter Sam Sweeney on Sunday, after he noticed that a flight from Auckland, New Zealand to Honolulu, Hawaii will land on their destinations in different years, because of an unexpected 10-minute delay.
Sweeney noted that Hawaiian Airlines flight no. 446 departed New Zealand at 12:05 a.m., where the country had just welcomed 2018.
The plane was expected to reach Hawaii at 10:16 a.m. on Dec. 31, 2017, all thanks to the 23-hour time difference between the two countries, and “an unexpected delay.”
Because of an unexpected delay, Hawaiian Airlines flight 446 took off in 2018 and will land in 2017. #timetravel pic.twitter.com/A5vesXmjqq
— Sam Sweeney (@SweeneyABC) December 31, 2017
His tweet became viral, triggering interesting reactions from netizens. One expressed that she was not surprised, because it was not new to her, and explained how it actually “happens a lot.”
That happens every time a plane crosses the current midnight line – think of it as the border between the kingdoms of 2017 and 2018 – in the wrong direction on New Year’s. In other words, it happens a lot. Still seems to surprise a lot of people every year.
— Anna Wallenstam (@WALLSTAM) December 31, 2017
Twitter user @MattDecample wondered if the delay was intended by the crew.
Gotta wonder if the crew ran 10 extra minutes of diagnostic checks to make this happen.
— Matt DeCample (@DeCample) December 31, 2017
This netizen raised the issue that time travel is now possible, but was disappointed that no flying car exists.
So, we have time travel, but still no flying cars.
— David Aus (@David_Aus) December 31, 2017
Netizen @webcentric best expressed his reaction through this gif photo, featuring Marty McFly and Doc Emmett Brown from the classic “Back to The Future” film trilogy.
— Hawkeye Images (@webcentrick) December 31, 2017
The passengers surely remembered this flight. JB
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