Travelers en route to China on a recent United Airlines flight encountered an unforeseen delay when the pilot realized they had left their passport behind, resulting in the plane returning to the United States.
When Flight UA198 from Los Angeles to Shanghai was flying over the Pacific Ocean on Saturday afternoon, it suddenly turned around and flew towards San Francisco, according to tracking information.
United confirmed Tuesday to AFP In an email, it was stated that the aircraft, a Boeing 787 carrying 270 individuals, landed in San Francisco because "the pilot lacked their passport."
"The firm stated they organized a different team to transport our clients to their destinations that night." They also mentioned, "Our passengers received meal coupons along with compensations," though specifics weren’t disclosed.
The flight-tracking information indicated that the aircraft touched down at Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport past midnight, roughly six hours later than its usual scheduled time.
The rerouting of the United flight occurred as travelers globally kept experiencing disruptions due to the closure at London's Heathrow Airport. Heathrow Airport In Europe's most bustling transportation center, a power outage the previous day led to this situation.