Jet to Hawaii Turns Back After Substance Is Found
A United Airlines flight bound for Hawaii returned to Los Angeles International Airport shortly after takeoff Friday evening after someone noticed a suspicious substance, an airport spokeswoman said.
About 4:30 p.m., Flight 51, with about 170 people aboard, departed for Kona, Hawaii, said Nancy Castles, an LAX spokeswoman. After the plane had traveled about 100 miles, it was ordered to return because of the substance, which has not been identified, Castles said.
The aircraft landed at 5:50 p.m. No passengers were sick, she said.
Airport police officers, federal agents, firefighters and hazardous-materials units helped passengers off the aircraft. The plane was isolated at a remote terminal, Castles said.
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