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American Airlines
passengers hope
third time’s a charm

Problems with three
different aircraft put them
hours behind schedule

---

By Gregg K. Kakesako
Star-Bulletin.

Barring more mechanical problems, American Airlines will have 290 very relieved passengers disembarking at the Honolulu Airport this afternoon who have tried since yesterday morning to get here.

After two attempts, American Airlines Flight 39 was supposed to land here today -- a day and half after trying to leave San Francisco.

The passengers began their trip yesterday morning on a DC-10.

Three hours into the trip, the captain turned around when he lost power in one of his three engines.

A DC-10 was dispatched from Los Angeles. But that plane developed mechanical problems, which delayed the flight until 11:40 last night.

An hour into the flight, the crew had noticed a loss of oil in one of the three engines, and the plane returned to San Francisco this morning.

The airline offered the passengers food and lodging until another aircraft arrived from Dallas.

However, that aircraft developed mechanical problems, and Flight 39 was delayed for another six hours. Next, a Boeing 767 was assigned to them.

Flight 39 was supposed to finally leave San Francisco at 1 p.m. today. However, the flight was again delayed for another couple of hours, putting its scheduled leave at mid-afternoon.

It was supposed to arrive at Honolulu about 5 p.m. today.