This weekend, a United Airlines flight en route from the United States to China had to unexpectedly divert when the pilot realized they had forgotten a crucial item: their passport.
Carrying 257 passengers, United flight UA198, departed from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Saturday, March 22 at 2:00 p.m. for what was supposed to be a 13.5-hour journey to Shanghai. However, nearly two hours into the trip, the aircraft made an abrupt turnaround, heading toward San Francisco International Airport (SFO), where it landed just before 5:00 p.m.
Flight tracking data from FlightRadar24 illustrated the aircraft, a Boeing 787-9, initially heading out over the Pacific Ocean before reversing course back to California.
Following the unexpected landing, a frustrated passenger took to social media to share their displeasure. Posting on X, they wrote: “UA198 diverted to SFO because the pilot forgot his passport? Now stuck six plus hours. Completely unacceptable. United, what compensation are you offering for this total mishandling?”
United Airlines responded with an apology for the disruption and directed the passenger to speak with an agent for assistance. When the traveler insisted that “all the passengers deserve compensation”, the airline provided a link explaining how to file a request.
Passengers were issued an official message from the airline, which stated, “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 were reportedly given $15 meal vouchers upon arrival in San Francisco as they waited for the replacement crew. A new flight departed later that evening at 9:00 p.m., finally reaching Shanghai after more than 12 hours in the air, landing just before 1:00 a.m. local time.
In a statement to The Independent, a United spokesperson confirmed, “On Saturday, United flight 198 from Los Angeles to Shanghai landed at San Francisco International Airport as the pilot did not have their passport onboard. We arranged for a new crew to take our customers to their destination that evening. Customers were provided with meal vouchers and compensation.”
This is not the first time a pilot’s passport issue has disrupted a flight. In 2019, a T’way Air flight from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to Incheon, South Korea, endured an 11-hour delay after the pilot misplaced his passport and was unable to access the airport. In that case, the airline arranged accommodations and meals for the 160 affected passengers while it searched for a replacement pilot.
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