Real-life stories

How one package of macadamia nuts made the pilot turn the plane around

Most people assume a plane turns around because of bad weather or mechanical problems. Now, imagine coming back for a baby left behind, maggots raining from an overhead bin, or a smell too impossibly foul for the trip to continue. These unbelievable events actually happened, forcing flights to abandon their journeys. Here are 10 stories that prove that the strangest flight delays often have nothing to do with the airplane at all.

In 2019, one mother faced her worst nightmare on a Saudia flight headed from Saudi Arabia to Malaysia. She told the crew mid-flight that she had left her child behind at the airport. The pilots got on the radio with air traffic control, and recordings of the pilot’s conversation quickly spread around the world: "I told you, a passenger has left her baby in the terminal and she is refusing to continue the flight."The ATC approved the unusual request to return, and once the plane landed, the mother was reunited with her baby.

In May 2013, a woman aboard an American Airlines flight from Los Angeles to New York repeatedly sang Whitney Houston’s hit "I Will Always Love You" and refused to stop, despite requests from the flight attendants. As the disruption continued, the captain diverted the aircraft to Kansas City, Missouri, where law enforcement officials were waiting. A federal air marshal restrained the woman before she was escorted off the plane. She was questioned by authorities and later released without criminal charges, but the unexpected stop delayed everyone’s journey.

In March 2015, on a British Airways flight from London's Heathrow to Dubai, passengers started complaining about a foul smell coming from a toilet that had become badly clogged. The crew tried everything they could, but nothing worked. Rather than continue the seven-hour journey under increasingly uncomfortable conditions, the pilot made the wise decision to return to Heathrow after less than an hour of flying.

In December 2014, Cho Hyun-ag, the daughter of Korean Air’s chairman and an executive at the company herself, was flying first class from New York to Seoul. A flight attendant handed her a bag of macadamia nuts instead of serving them on a plate. Apparently, that was enough to set her off. Outraged over what she viewed as a breach of service standards, she demanded that the aircraft return to JFK so the flight attendant could be removed. The story turned into a public scandal that quickly escalated into criminal charges against Cho for violating aviation safety laws, and a lawsuit from the attendant who won compensation for the humiliation.

Finding an occasional unexpected insect in a picnic basket is one thing. Seeing dozens of them raining down from the overhead compartment of an airplane is something else entirely.

That unsettling scene unfolded in 2010 aboard a US Airways flight headed from Atlanta to New York. Well into an hour of the flight had passed when two unwitting victims looked up in disbelief as larvae began falling from an overhead bin. The crew traced the maggots and found a bag that contained rotten fish wrapped in newspaper. The pilot immediately decided to return the aircraft to the gate so everyone could disembark safely while the plane underwent an extensive cleaning. Airline staff later fumigated the cabin before putting the plane back into service, and passengers were placed on the next available flight.

In 2014, soon after a Qantas flight took off from Perth to Karratha, an unusually foul smell and smoke spread through the cabin, prompting repeated complaints from travelers. Some reported smelling kerosene, while others compared it to dry-cleaning chemicals. Rather than risk continuing the journey without knowing the source, the captain decided to call for emergency landing protocols. Firefighters, police officers, and firefighters were waiting when the aircraft landed safely. Around 80 passengers were assessed for possible fume inhalation, although no one required hospitalization. What the smell was remains a mystery.

During long flights, it’s healthy to stand up, stretch, and shake off the stiffness. Walking the aisle is one thing, but in March 2016, a United Airlines flight from Honolulu to Tokyo turned around after one passenger took things much further.

Seventy-two-year-old Hyongtae Pae left his seat during meal service to meditate and practice yoga in the rear galley. When flight attendants and his wife asked him to return to his seat, he became enraged, shoved his wife, and began threatening people nearby. Several U.S. Marines traveling as passengers stepped in, but Pae reportedly tried to hit and bite them as they restrained him. With the situation becoming a security risk, the capital returned to Honolulu, where FBI agents were waiting. Pae later claimed he had not slept in 11 days and was eventually ordered to pay thousands of dollars in restitution for disrupting the flight.

Laser pointers are common when trying to entertain a cat, and it’s more and more common to see them during presentations. But when they’re aimed at an aircraft, they can become extremely dangerous.

In 2016, during a Virgin Atlantic flight departing London’s Heathrow Airport for New York, a green laser beam was directed from the outside into the cockpit while flying at 8,000 feet. The laser hit one of the officers, and his vision was compromised. To protect the officer and the passengers, the pilot declared a medical emergency, and the flight was turned around and forced to return. Since the UK made laser strikes a crime back in 2010, police officers tried to find the source, but the search was unsuccessful.

There’s always a passenger who rushes through the airport, hoping to reach the gate before boarding ends. Unusually, once the aircraft pushes back, the opportunity is gone.

In 2015, though, two Air Malta passengers received an astonishing second chance. About 30 minutes after takeoff, the aircraft returned to Malta International Airport, not because of mechanical trouble, but because airline staff found a mismatch between the number of passengers onboard and the checked baggage loaded into the cargo hold. Aviation security rules require airlines to know exactly whose luggage is traveling on the aircraft, so to resolve the discrepancy, the flight returned so the situation could be verified. Luckily, the two passengers who hadn’t made it the first time could get on board the second.

In 2012, a United Airlines flight departing Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, for Chicago had barely begun its journey when two flight attendants became involved in an intense verbal argument. The ridiculous reason was that one of the flight attendants had allegedly crossed her legs and brushed the other unintentionally. The disagreement became so intense that the captain informed ATC and had to return to the airport. Once back at the gate, the two employees were removed from the flight and replaced with a new emergency crew before passengers could continue their trip.

Picture-Perfect Places

The Prettiest Towns in 10 US States

There’s no doubt that America is filled with beautiful small towns, but which ones deserve to be called the prettiest? Architectural Digest recently picked one standout town in every state, based on a combination of beauty, culture, architecture, and character. From locations with healing springs to the film set of The Truman Show, here are the first 10 on its list (in alphabetical order). Let’s look at some of the most stunning towns across the country and see if we agree.

Fairhope, Alabama, sits on the high bluffs of the eastern shore of Mobile Bay. It has sprawling live oak trees that form green canopies nearly everywhere you look, brightly colored storefronts, and local art galleries along the historic downtown streets.

Its walkable downtown is filled with shops and cafés, while the waterfront offers beautiful views across Mobile Bay.

Seward, Alaska, is a stunning coastal port city on Resurrection Bay. About 120 miles south of Anchorage, Seward is surrounded by dramatic mountain scenery and deep blue water.

Its picturesque marina and charming downtown add to its appeal, while nearby Kenai Fjords National Park provides spectacular opportunities to experience Alaska’s glaciers and wilderness.

Sedona, Arizona is a striking desert town surrounded by enormous red and orange rock formations. It is also known for its alleged energy vortices, which attract visitors interested in their supposed spiritual properties.

Cathedral Rock is a popular hiking destination known for its clear nights that offer great stargazing without light pollution. The main street features a walkable district with shops, art galleries, and an Old West feel.

Eureka Springs, Arkansas, is a picturesque Ozark Mountain community known for its 19th-century Victorian architecture and natural mineral springs. Set against steep, winding hills, it offers a unique mix of history, wellness, and local art.

The town grew rapidly in 1879 around 60 natural mineral springs believed to have healing powers. Buildings cling to steep hillsides along stair-step streets. Home to over 400 working artists, the town features galleries, studios, and an annual art festival.

Carmel-by-the-Sea is a one-square-mile coastal village on California's Monterey Peninsula famous for its fairytale cottages and cobblestone alleys built without standard street addresses or neon billboards.

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve sits just south of the town, offering turquoise coves and wildlife viewing. Its compact downtown feels like a storybook village, while the Pacific coastline of white-sand beaches provides an unforgettable backdrop. (Fun fact: Clint Eastwood was its mayor from 1986 to 1988.)

Breckenridge, Colorado, is a scenic historic mining and resort town located at an elevation of 9,600 feet in the Rocky Mountains, in Summit County, about 90 minutes southwest of Denver.

Founded in the 1850s during the Gold Rush, it later became a popular destination for skiing and other mountain activities. Today, visitors can enjoy winter sports, summer hiking and biking, and a stroll through the historic downtown district.

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, is a premier coastal destination known as the "Nation's Summer Capital," featuring a nostalgic mile-long boardwalk, free public beaches, and tax-free shopping.

It also has convenient access to outdoor recreation, with Cape Henlopen State Park and Delaware Seashore State Park nearby. While the beach can get crowded in summer, its shoreline is a major part of the town’s enduring appeal.

Located on the Florida Panhandle, Seaside is a pretty and walkable beach town on scenic Highway 30A known for its pastel houses and clear emerald water.

The town features bright, colorful beach homes and white sand. It is one of the country’s earliest examples of New Urbanism, a design movement centered on walkable, pedestrian-friendly communities. The 1998 movie The Truman Show, starring Jim Carrey, was filmed there, adding another layer of pop-culture history to this picture-perfect community.

St. Marys, Georgia is a historic coastal community. less than 40 miles north of Jacksonville, Florida. It acts as the primary ferry departure point for the pristine Cumberland Island National Seashore.

Established in 1787, it's one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the United States.

Paia is a charming, historic sugar plantation town from the 1800s, located on the North Shore of Maui, Hawaii. Nowadays, it has a relaxed, bohemian vibe filled with colorful, rustic wooden storefronts.

The town attracts surfers, yogis, and travelers from all over the country and around the world, looking for a slow pace of life. Its beautiful shoreline and laid-back atmosphere make it an appealing stop for anyone exploring Maui’s North Shore.