A United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Shanghai had to make an unexpected U-turn and land in San Francisco—all because one of the pilots forgot his passport.
The incident happened on March 22, just two hours after takeoff. The pilot realized he didn’t have his passport, a crucial document for international travel. The plane, carrying 257 passengers and 13 crew members, was forced to divert to San Francisco instead of returning to Los Angeles.
Passengers were shocked when they heard the announcement. One traveler, Yang Shuhan, told CNN that the pilot sounded “very frustrated” as he explained the situation over the intercom. Many people wondered how such a mistake could happen, especially since pilots are trained to be highly detail-oriented.
After landing in San Francisco around 5 p.m., United Airlines arranged a new flight and crew to take passengers to Shanghai. However, the delay meant they would arrive nearly 12 hours late, disrupting many travelers’ plans.
United apologized and offered passengers a $15 meal voucher as compensation. But the airline wasn’t fully honest about the reason for the diversion, only calling it a “crew-related issue.” Passengers expressed frustration online, with one calling the situation “completely unacceptable.”
Aviation experts criticized the mistake, calling it embarrassing for United Airlines. Shukor Yusof, an industry analyst, said it showed a “lack of discipline.”
This is just the latest in a series of incidents involving United Airlines, including recent controversies over passenger treatment. While forgetting a passport isn’t dangerous, it has raised questions about professionalism in the airline industry.
For now, passengers are left with an unusual travel story—and a reminder to always double-check their own passports before flying.
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