Guam-bound United plane diverted to Midway atoll

HONOLULU -- A United Airlines flight from Honolulu to Guam was diverted to the remote island of Midway because of a mechanical issue.

The airline said Friday it flew the 335 passengers and 13 crew members from Flight 201 back to Honolulu. It put Guam-bound passengers on another flight to the U.S. territory.

The Boeing 777 was heading to Guam on Thursday when it was diverted. United says replacement aircraft brought passengers back to Honolulu Friday morning.

The Navy used the atoll 1,300 miles northwest of Honolulu as a base during the Cold War but left in 1996.

It's now a national wildlife refuge home to more than 1 million seabirds, green sea turtles and endangered Hawaiian monk seals.

The island's residents manage the airstrip and wildlife refuge.