Friendship forms after Charleston flight diverts to Georgia

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCBD) – A flight to Charleston took a turn when it suddenly diverted to Augusta Regional Airport.

Passengers were confused as they were almost to their destination and even saw the runway. The pilots cited weather issues and said the plane would need to refuel when it landed in Georgia.

“I looked at my aisle mates and said something isn’t right here,” Don Bailey, a Mount Pleasant resident and flight passenger, said.

Bailey’s concern was similar to that of other passengers after the plane cruised back up to altitude. He would turn out to be right after the aircraft was at a standstill while it was being refueled, which caused the plane to become uncomfortably warm due to ventilation.

The Mount Pleasant resident said he began talking with his aisle mates in case the flight would not take off. They began looking at rental cars, Uber, and Lyft. Shortly after, the flight crew had the passengers de-plane and told them to take all their belongings.

Bailey said Delta issued the passengers meal vouchers and Augusta gate agents were transparent about getting to Charleston. He learned that the plane would no longer be operational because of mechanical issues.

Luckily, Bailey and the two others were able to find an Uber willing to take them on the three-hour road trip. He called their driver, Alaina, a hero. They noticed two more passengers who weren’t having any luck and invited them to split the fare. To the newcomers’ surprise, they didn’t know they would all form a new friendship.

“The girls were seated in the back and I was sitting shotgun,” Bailey said. “They were like ‘Wait you guys don’t know each other’ to the guys. Like no, we met on the plane. We’re all just here to try to solve the same problem. We listened to music and we chatted.”

The group of five started a group chat and shared their arrivals with each other.

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