United Airlines flight forced to divert after passenger gets stuck in the bathroom

The Boeing 737 was travelling from Washington to San Francisco when it diverted to Denver

A United Airlines Boeing 737. On Wednesday, September 25 a United flight had to make a diversion to Denver after a passenger was stuck in the bathroom. Reuters

Plane diversions are hardly a rare thing and are usually due to a mechanical issue or because a passenger requires urgent medical attention.

But have you ever heard of a flight being diverted because a passenger became stuck in the bathroom?

This is what happened to United Airlines flight UA1554 which was travelling from Washington DC to San Francisco on Wednesday evening.

The plane had to be diverted to Denver where passengers eventually disembarked and boarded a new flight.

Taylor Kimber, a passenger on the flight, videoed the scenes as crew and passengers tried to gain access to the bathroom to release the person who was stuck.

She said the Denver Fire Department arrived once they had landed to free the person who was unharmed.

She kept her Twitter followers updated on the "random adventure" with the official comments passengers were receiving via SMS from United Airlines while the incident was playing out.

One of these messages from United stated: "The maintenance team will need more time to complete their work, and we are currently in the process of assigning your flight a new plane ... we know this delay wasn't part of your travel plans, so we appreciate you hanging in there."

United Airlines responded directly to her on Twitter, saying: "Thanks so much for your patience and understanding today, Taylor!"

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50 years of the Boeing 747

The 747 takes off for its first flight in 1969. All images courtesy Boeing

Flight attendants pose in front of the jumbo jet.

The Boeing 747 next to the 707.

Crowds tour the 747 for a closer look.

The iconic 747 nose.

A close-up of the early 747 engines.

A mock-up of the 747 interior.

The first 747 flight in 1969.

A 747 byline on the occasion of the Queen of the Skies 50th first flight anniversary. All photos by Boeing

The flight crew for the first flight in 1969.

A 747 byline on the occasion of the Queen of the Skies 50th first flight anniversary. All photos by Boeing

Joe Sutter headed the design team and has since been known as the “Father of the 747.”

The first 747 flight in 1969.

A 747 byline on the occasion of the Queen of the Skies 50th first flight anniversary. All photos by Boeing

Pan Am 747s in the factory.

Model mock-ups of the 747.

Crowds queue to board a 747 at an air show.

The first 747 flight in 1969.

The 747 marked the first commercial use of the high bypass turbofan engine.

A Boeing 747-400 flies alongside a 737-400.

Balast tanks during the assembly of the 747.

A stamp on the side of the Boeing plant at Everett, Washington.

747 project test pilot Jack Waddell.