BANGOR, Maine — The Airbus A380 that touched down at Bangor International Airport on Sunday was the first of its kind to land here, but it was just the latest of many diverted flights to make a surprise stop in the Queen City. Over the years, Bangor has gained a reputation as “the place where diverted flights go,” as a 2012 Associated Press story put it. Due to its location in the far northeast of the U.S., Bangor International Airport has often been the first place to stop for flights dealing with terror threats or unruly passengers. Here’s a few of our past stories on diverted flights or unusual planes ending up in Bangor:
— Last year, an Antonov An-225, the world’s largest airplane, touched down at BIA to refuel: “World’s largest airplane lands at Bangor airport”
— A London-to-Washington flight was infamously diverted to Bangor International Airport in 2004 when it was discovered passenger Yusuf Islam — formerly known as singer Cat Stevens — was on a government watch list and barred from entering the country: “Jet diverted to Bangor; Cat Stevens on watch list”
— An Air France flight bound for Logan Airport was diverted to BIA in 2005 because U.S. authorities learned that one passenger’s name and date of birth were included on the federal no-fly list. It turned out they had the wrong man: “Mistaken identity results in flight diversion to BIA”
— A British woman who mixed prescription drugs and wine before drinking liquid hand soap and attacking flight attendants on a plane bound for London from Los Angeles ended up facing charges after the plane was diverted to BIA in 2009: “Passenger faces air rage charges after swallowing wine, pills, soap”
— A flight en route from Paris to Charlotte, North Carolina, was diverted to BIA in 2012 after a female passenger announced she had a surgically implanted device: “US Airways jet diverted to Bangor; passenger claimed to have surgically implanted device”
— With President Barack Obama making several stops in New Hampshire and Massachusetts during the 2012 presidential campaign, Air Force One touched down at BIA: “Air Force One touches down at Bangor International Airport”
— A Scandinavian Airlines Airbus 330 was diverted to BIA in 2012 after its cockpit filled with smoke: “Plane with 230 passengers on board diverted to Bangor airport after smoke fills cockpit”
— A Delta flight en route from Amsterdam to Minnesota was diverted to BIA in 2012 after a child became ill: “Delta flight diverted to BIA after child becomes ill”
— An electrical issue forced Air Canada Flight 692 from Toronto to Newfoundland to make a BIA stop last year: “Air Canada flight makes emergency landing at Bangor airport“