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Passengers on United Airlines Flight UA198 from Los Angeles to Shanghai faced an unexpected delay after the flight was forced to turn back mid-air—all because the pilot forgot their passport.
The flight, a Boeing 787 carrying 270 passengers, had already crossed part of the Pacific Ocean when it made a U-turn and headed to San Francisco instead of continuing to China.
United Airlines Confirms Incident
According to report, In a statement to AFP, United Airlines confirmed that the flight diverted because the pilot "did not have their passport onboard."
To resolve the issue, United arranged for a new crew to take the passengers to Shanghai later that evening. Affected travelers were provided meal vouchers and compensation, though the airline did not disclose the exact amount.
Six-Hour Delay for Passengers
According to flight tracking data, the aircraft eventually landed at Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport after midnight—six hours behind schedule.
The incident occurred amid ongoing global travel disruptions, particularly at London’s Heathrow Airport, where a major power outage caused significant delays.
While forgetting a passport is a common travel mistake for passengers, this time, it was the pilot’s error that caused the detour—leaving many travelers frustrated but with an unforgettable story to tell.
