A United Airlines flight from Shanghai to Los Angeles was compelled to turn back to the United States after a pilot discovered mid-flight that they had left their passport behind, causing extensive delays and frustration among passengers.
Incident Details
United Airlines Flight 198 departed Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on March 22, 2025, at approximately 2 p.m. en route to Shanghai, China. Approximately two hours into the flight, flying over the Pacific Ocean, it was discovered that one of the pilots did not have their passport with them on board. That would result in the pilot not being able to enter China upon arrival, and an alternative was desperately required.
Consequently, the Boeing 787-9 aircraft, which had 257 passengers and 13 crew members, made a diversion to San Francisco International Airport (SFO). The flight landed at SFO around 5 p.m. local time.
Passenger Experience
Upon arrival in San Francisco, the passengers were informed of the situation and provided with meal vouchers and compensation for the inconvenience. United Airlines arranged for a new crew to conduct the flight. The flight ultimately departed SFO at approximately 9 p.m. and arrived in Shanghai about six hours late.
Most passengers were upset by the delay. Some of them took to social media sites to complain about it, with one passenger wondering how this could happen.
Operational Impact
The delay of Flight 198 cascaded into subsequent flights. The flight returning to Los Angeles from Shanghai, Flight 199, also suffered delays because of the delayed arrival of the plane in Shanghai. This impact reached passengers traveling on both stages of the journey, and this shows the wider effects of such operation mistakes.
Industry Perspective
Aviation experts have characterized the incident as embarrassing and unacceptable for an international major airline. Shukor Yusof, a Singapore-based founder of Endau Analytics, said that this is a display of a lack of discipline and will lead to hefty costs for the airline, such as diverting aircraft costs, extra fuel burn, and compensation to passengers.
United Airlines’ Response
United Airlines confirmed the incident, saying the flight was diverted as the pilot lacked their passport on board. The airline asserted that they chartered a new crew to have passengers arrive at their destination that night and issued meal vouchers and compensation to impacted customers.
This episode highlights the paramount role of proper pre-flight checks and compliance with procedures by airline staff. Verification of all documents in order is key to avoiding such interruptions, which can result in passenger dissatisfaction as well as operational inefficiencies. Airlines need to reaffirm the importance of these measures in order to ensure reliability and trust among travelers.
