A plane had to divert mid-flight after the pilot realized they forgot their passport, causing delays and inconvenience for passengers.
A recent incident involving a United Airlines flight has caused quite a stir.
The flight was headed from the USA to China when it had to make an unexpected stop.
This situation arose because the pilot realized he had forgotten his passport.
Plane forced to make U-turn two hours into the journey as pilot realizes they left their passport behind
The flight, known as UA198, took off from Los Angeles International Airport.
It was scheduled to fly to Shanghai, China. The journey was supposed to take about 13 and a half hours.
However, after just two hours in the air, the pilot had to make a decision that would impact many passengers on board.
While flying over the Pacific Ocean, the pilot realized he did not have his passport with him. This oversight led to a quick change in plans.
The plane turned around and headed back to San Francisco. It landed at San Francisco International Airport just before 5 PM local time.
“Your flight diverted to San Francisco due to an unexpected crew-related issue requiring a new crew.
“Once they arrive, we’ll get you back on your way to Shanghai as soon as possible. We sincerely apologize for this disruption and appreciate your patience.”
Passengers are outraged over the incident
Many passengers were surprised and frustrated by this turn of events.
One passenger shared their thoughts on social media. They called the situation “unacceptable” and questioned what compensation the airline would offer for the inconvenience.
This tweet caught the attention of United Airlines, who responded with an apology for the disruption.
A United Airlines spokesperson replied to the tweet, saying: “We sincerely apologize for the unexpected travel disruption.”
United Airlines responded to the incident
United Airlines acknowledged the incident and explained. They stated that the flight diverted due to a crew-related issue.
The airline informed passengers that they would arrange for a new crew to continue the flight to Shanghai.
Additionally, they provided meal vouchers to those affected by the delay.
‘We arranged for a new crew to take our customers to their destination that evening. Customers were provided with meal vouchers and compensation.’
Passengers received a meal voucher worth $15 while they waited in San Francisco. The airline made efforts to minimize the inconvenience caused.
In a formal statement, United Airlines expressed its regret over the situation.
They assured passengers that they would do everything to get them to their destination as soon as possible.
This is not the first time a flight has been delayed for unusual reasons.
In 2024, another airline faced a similar issue. On that occasion, a pilot delayed a flight to find better food for his crew.
Such incidents highlight the challenges airlines face when managing flights and crew needs.