Passengers on United Airlines Flight UA198 from Los Angeles to Shanghai faced an unexpected setback when the plane had to turn back mid-flight because the pilot forgot their passport.
The Boeing 787, carrying 270 passengers, was already flying over the Pacific Ocean on Saturday afternoon when it was redirected to San Francisco, according to flight tracking data.
United Airlines confirmed the incident on Tuesday, stating that the diversion occurred because the pilot did not have their passport on board.
To minimize disruptions, the airline arranged for a new crew to take passengers to Shanghai that evening. Affected travelers were also provided with meal vouchers and compensation, though the specific details were not disclosed.
The flight ultimately landed at Shanghai Pudong International Airport after midnight, approximately six hours behind schedule.
This incident came as air travelers worldwide continued to face disruptions, particularly at London’s Heathrow Airport, where a power outage the day before had caused widespread delays and cancellations.
