United Airlines Flight Diverts After Pilot Forgets Passport, Causing Delays

A United Airlines Boeing 787 bound for Shanghai from Los Angeles was forced to make an unexpected diversion to San Francisco, after one of the pilots realized they had forgotten their passport.

The incident caused significant delays and frustration for passengers on both the outbound and return flights.

Flight UA 198 departed Los Angeles International Airport at approximately 2 p.m. with 257 passengers and 13 crew members on board. About two hours into the journey, the aircraft reversed course and landed in San Francisco around 5 p.m. local time.

United Airlines confirmed the incident in a statement, saying, "The pilot did not have their passport onboard. We arranged for a new crew to take our customers to their destination that evening. Customers were provided with meal vouchers and compensation".

The flight eventually departed San Francisco with a new crew around 9 p.m., arriving in Shanghai about six hours behind schedule1. Passengers reported receiving meal vouchers worth $15 and were directed to submit compensation claims through United's website.

Yang Shuhan, a Chinese passenger, told CNN she heard the pilot's "very frustrated voice" over the intercom admitting he had forgotten his passport. Yang expressed appreciation for the pilot's honesty but noted that many fellow passengers were "outraged" and "speechless".

The incident also affected the return flight, UA 199 from Shanghai to Los Angeles, causing further delays and inconvenience for travelers. Aviation industry expert Shukor Yusof called the mistake "unacceptable" for a global airline like United, describing it as "a lack of discipline" and potentially costly for the company.

This incident adds to recent controversies surrounding United Airlines, including a lawsuit filed by an Orthodox Jewish passenger alleging mistreatment and a viral TikTok video criticizing the airline's handling of a medically complex child.

As United Airlines faces scrutiny over this latest mishap, the incident serves as a reminder of the importance of thorough pre-flight checks and the significant impact that seemingly small oversights can have on air travel operations and passenger experiences.