On a recent United Airlines flight, travellers bound for China encountered an unforeseen issue after the pilot’s forgotten passport forced their return to the U.S.
Flight UA198 departing from Los Angeles to Shanghai made a U-turn over the Pacific Ocean on Saturday and returned to San Francisco, according to flight tracking data.
In an email to AFP on Tuesday, United Airlines confirmed that the Boeing 787, carrying 270 passengers, stopped in San Francisco “because the pilot did not have their passport onboard.”
“We arranged for a new crew to take our customers to their destination that evening,” the company said, adding that “customers were provided with meal vouchers and compensation,” without specifying.
Data from flight tracking indicated that the aircraft arrived at Pudong International Airport in Shanghai shortly after midnight, roughly six hours later than its usual arrival time.
The rerouting of the United flight occurred as travellers globally continued to experience disruptions due to a power outage the previous day at London’s Heathrow Airport, the busiest airport in Europe.
