Record: Plane In Sky For 16 Hours After Trump Ban

Story By: Ernest Bio BogoreSub-EditorJoseph Golder, Agency:  Newsflash

A passenger plane has completed the longest domestic flight ever after it was banned from landing on U.S. soil because of the coronavirus and forced to fly for nearly 16 hours straight.

The Boeing 787-9 left Papeete, on the island of Tahiti in French Polynesia on 15th March at 3:10 a.m. local time and was due to stop in Los Angeles (LAX) in California before flying on to the French capital Paris.

However, due to US President Donald Trump announcing the suspension of all travel from Europe to the United States on 11th March, the Air Tahiti Nui flight was forced to fly directly to Paris, covering some 15,715 kilometres (9,764 miles) directly.

Newsflash

The plane landed at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport at 5:54 a.m. after 15 hours and 45 minutes in the air, according to ‘flightradar24.com’ who said on social media the trip was “the longest domestic flight in the world”.

Air Tahiti Nui have now specified that several of its flights travelling between mainland France and French Polynesia will stop in Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe.

Newsflash

The Boeing 787-9 was reportedly able to complete the huge flight as it was not fully loaded with passengers or cargo.

In October 2019, a Qantas Airlines Boeing 787 flew non-stop from New York to Sydney in 19 hours and 16 minutes as part of an experimental flight during which four pilots took turns operating the aircraft.

The ViralTab page is created by and dedicated to professional, independent freelance journalists. It is a place for us to showcase our work. When our news is sold to our media partners, we will include the link here.