United Airlines Flight Returns to US After Pilot Forgets Passport
A United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Shanghai had to turn back midair after the pilot realized he had forgotten his passport.
Flight UA198 was already over the Pacific Ocean on Saturday afternoon when it was diverted to San Francisco, according to flight tracking data.
United Airlines confirmed the incident in an email to AFP on Tuesday, stating that the Boeing 787, carrying 270 passengers, had to make an unscheduled stop because the pilot did not have his passport.
A replacement crew was arranged, and passengers were provided with meal vouchers and compensation before continuing their journey later that evening. The flight eventually landed at Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport about six hours behind schedule.
This incident occurred amid global travel disruptions, including those caused by a recent power outage at London’s Heathrow Airport, Europe’s busiest hub.
