A United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Shanghai was forced to turn back midair after the pilot realized they had forgotten their passport. Flight UA198, a Boeing 787 with 270 passengers onboard, had already traveled over the Pacific Ocean when it made an abrupt U-turn and diverted to San Francisco.
United Airlines confirmed that the unscheduled stop was necessary as the pilot did not have their passport, preventing them from continuing the international flight. To minimize further delays, the airline arranged for a replacement crew to take over, ensuring the journey resumed the same evening. Passengers received meal vouchers and compensation for the inconvenience.
The flight eventually landed at Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport after midnight, about six hours behind its scheduled arrival. The incident came at a time when global travelers were already facing disruptions, including a shutdown at London’s Heathrow Airport—the busiest hub in Europe—due to a major power outage the previous day.
