SAS Flight From JFK Turns Back Over Atlantic, Passengers Left To Find Hotels After Midnight

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Hundreds of passengers on an SAS flight from New York JFK Airport (JFK) to Copenhagen Airport (CPH) were left stranded at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) well past midnight after their aircraft turned back over the Atlantic due to a technical issue. Passengers were left without new flight details or access to their checked bags, while SAS eventually told them to book their own hotels.

Flight SK916 — operated by an Airbus A330-300 that can seat up to 262 passengers — had spent more than three and a half hours in the air before landing at Newark. Passengers said they received very little information both during and after the diversion, before SAS emailed them asking them to arrange their own hotel rooms.

SAS Passengers' Late-Night Ordeal In Newark

SK916 was scheduled to leave JFK at 6:55 PM local time on Friday, October 23, for an overnight flight to Copenhagen, and was due to arrive at 8:40 AM on Saturday. Flight tracking data shows that the aircraft departed at 7:24 PM, 29 minutes behind schedule. Passenger Michael Flarup — who was traveling home to Copenhagen with his son — wrote on X that he noticed the aircraft heading in the wrong direction on the in-flight map around two hours into the flight.

Passengers were then told by cabin crew that the captain would make an announcement, before they were informed that the aircraft had developed a technical issue and the pilots did not feel comfortable continuing across the Atlantic. The A330 landed at Newark at 10:58 PM after three hours and 34 minutes in the air, with fire trucks and ambulances waiting on the runway. However, a series of further problems after landing would make the ordeal even more difficult. Flarup said,

"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."

Stranded In Newark, Bags Trapped On Plane

Passengers reportedly waited around an hour at baggage claim before being told their luggage could not be removed from the aircraft. They were subsequently given a QR code to report missing bags, but SAS's system would not accept their reports because they had not reached their original destination.

They were then told to expect new flight details within a couple of hours. However, Flarup said several hours passed without an update before his booking disappeared from the SAS app altogether. By then, it was past midnight, before SAS emailed passengers asking them to arrange their own accommodation and offering reimbursement of up to $280 (€250) per room.

Flarup said he managed to book one of the last available hotel rooms in the area. However, he claims that many passengers were still stranded at Newark when he and his son left. After making several calls to SAS support, nobody was able to tell him where the family's two suitcases were or help him register them as missing.

SAS confirmed to Danish outlet TV 2 that the flight returned due to a possible technical fault, adding that the aircraft was being inspected in Newark. However, it did not elaborate on the nature of the technical fault or why the aircraft was sent to Newark instead of JFK. Tracking data shows the aircraft involved (registration: LN-RKR) flew to Copenhagen the following day as flight SK910. Simple Flying contacted SAS for comment on this incident, but a representative could not be reached before publication.

What EU Rules Say About Hotels And Compensation

Because SK916 was operated by a European airline and was bound for Copenhagen, it falls under the EU's air passenger rights regulation, EU261. Under these rules, airlines must provide passengers with free hotel accommodation for overnight delays, along with transport between the airport and hotel.

They must also provide meals and refreshments in reasonable amounts for the waiting time. This duty of care applies regardless of the reason for the disruption. Passengers may also be entitled to $672 (€600) in compensation for cancellations or arrival delays of four hours or more on flights covering more than 3,500 kilometers.