Reply To: ESTA required for medical emergencies in USA?

[NorthernLass]

Thanks – yes that’s entirely possible (and did happen during the pandemic). However, I wouldn’t be able to provide a valid arrival date without a flight booking (not going to put ANYTHING on the application which might be construed as dishonest, obviously), although I suppose I could make a speculative, flexible hotel booking somewhere.

There must be precedents where planes have diverted to the US to deal with medical emergencies, but I’m struggling to find anything online. I know in the case of the ship which collided with the bridge in Baltimore in March injured people were taken off for treatment, but it may be different if an incident occurs within US waters/airspace?