Passengers aboard Spring Airlines flight 9C6899, bound for Busan, South Korea, on the evening of May 16, were forced to return to Shanghai Pudong International Airport after failing to land due to heavy rain at their destination.
Some travelers questioned why the aircraft did not divert to another airport in South Korea instead of flying back to China. Additionally, many passengers had booked hotels in Busan at varying prices and faced financial losses from cancellations, for which the airline has not offered compensation.
A spokesperson from Spring Airlines' publicity department responded to the incident at approximately 6:29 p.m. on May 17, explaining that heavy rainfall in the Busan airport area made it impossible for the plane to land safely.
When asked why the flight did not divert to another South Korean airport, the spokesperson clarified that since Busan Airport—the flight's original destination—was scheduled to close from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., landing at an alternative airport in South Korea would not have allowed passengers to disembark and clear customs due to international travel restrictions. Moreover, it was uncertain whether the aircraft could have landed in Busan before the airport's closure.
After returning to Shanghai, the airline arranged free hotel accommodations for affected passengers. The rescheduled flight successfully arrived in Busan at around 9 a.m. on May 17.
Regarding potential losses from hotel bookings in South Korea, the spokesperson noted that passengers could obtain flight cancellation or delay certificates through Spring Airlines' app or WeChat mini-program to facilitate negotiations with hotels. However, the airline has not committed to reimbursing these expenses.
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