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FILE — Air traffic control tower at San Francisco International Airport.
An Air Canada plane almost flew into disaster at San Francisco International Airport on July 7, 2017. This graphic shows Taxiway C, where several planes were lined up waiting to take off and where the Air Canada plane nearly landed, and Runway 28R, where the plane eventually landed safely.
Marilyn Hartman, known as the "serial stowaway," tried to board planes bound for Hawaii at SFO three times in February 2014. She successfully boarded one aircraft at SFO and was later arrested for loitering around the airport. Then, in August 2014, she snuck onto a Southwest Airlines flight from Mineta San Jose International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport and was arrested upon arrival. Pictured is a combination of four 2014 booking photos released by the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office.
A 16-year-old boy, pictured on a stretcher, stowed away in the wheel of a flight from San Jose to Maui, and somehow survived the high altitude and freezing temperatures.
A fire-suppression foam spilled out of a hangar and created a snow-like scene at the San Jose airport on Nov. 18, 2016.
A man broke through security at SFO and ran onto the tarmac, leading law enforcement on a wild chase on Dec. 7, 2016.
Dozens of flights out of Oakland International Airport were delayed on Jan. 6, 2007, after a man bolted past law enforcement and into the secure area of the airport. Authorities evacuated one terminal for two hours and the entire facility for about an hour. Law enforcement never found the perpetrator.
A British Airways jet with 425 people aboard made an emergency landing to Vancouver, British Columbia, when the 25-member flight crew suddenly became ill on Oct. 24, 2016. The flight took off from SFO.
Thirteen United Airlines flight attendants were fired on July 14, 2014 when an image was discovered on the plane’s tail cone that read, "bye bye." They were fired for refusing to work on the flight, which was scheduled to go from SFO to Hong Kong.
A homeless woman pleaded not guilty to trespassing charges on March 11, 2015 after she was found on the SFO runway with intentions to stow away on a plane bound to Central America.
A man on a Southwest flight en route to SFO from LAX was detained after strangling another passenger when the passenger reclined her seat shortly after takeoff on Oct. 18, 2015.
A man aboard a Southwest Airlines flight heading to Chicago from Oakland International Airport was arrested after swinging nunchaku sticks (aka nunchucks) in October 2003.
A Hawaiian Airlines flight that left from San Jose International Airport took off with a final destination to Honolulu but wound up flying in circles for 3.5 hours before it headed back to San Jose on March 7, 2017. Mechanical issues were to blame, and the plane flew in circles to burn off heavy fuel before landing.
Miguel Zaragoza, 39, was arrested after sneaking onto a restricted loading ramp and stealing a truck at San Jose International Airport in November 2014.
A man was arrested after he bit a flight attendant's ear on a flight from Amsterdam to SFO on Nov. 3, 2000. He was arrested upon arrival.
A United Airlines flight headed to London returned to SFO after it was struck by lightning on April 13, 2012. File photo.
Three unrelated issues forced emergency landings at two Bay Area airports late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning.
A United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Orange County had to return to SFO shortly after takeoff late Wednesday evening when the plane hit a bird. (Or a bird hit the plane? Unclear.) The plane was taken out of service for an inspection, a spokesperson for United told SFGATE. Passengers were transferred to another plane, which arrived in Orange County delayed but without incident.
Around the same time, a Lufthansa flight from SFO to Munich also had to turn back after takeoff after one of its four engines stalled. The plane landed safely back in San Francisco, where passengers deplaned and had to be rebooked.
The airborne issues continued Thursday morning at Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport. Southwest flight 693 from Los Angeles (LAX) had to perform an emergency landing at 6:50 a.m. in San Jose "due to a potential mechanical situation involving the aircraft’s hydraulic system."
A Southwest spokesperson said the aircraft was able to safely land and taxi to the gate. It was taken out of service for inspection and repairs.
In case things weren't busy enough at local airports, a grass fire broke out late Thursday morning on San Bruno Mountain above Brisbane. Smoke was visible from SFO, but it wasn't affecting flights as of 12 p.m.
Alix Martichoux is an SFGATE digital editor. Email: alix.martichoux@sfgate.com