Passengers traveling to China on a recent United Airlines flight experienced an unexpected delay after the pilot realized he did not have his passport, leading to a return to the United States.
Flight UA198, which departed from Los Angeles en route to Shanghai, had to make an unexpected U-turn over the Pacific Ocean and redirected to San Francisco, as confirmed by United Airlines.
The Boeing 787 carried 270 passengers and landed in San Francisco to rectify the situation, where the airline arranged for a new crew to continue the journey to their destination later that evening. Passengers were offered meal vouchers and compensation for the inconvenience caused by the delay.
Upon resuming its flight, the aircraft eventually reached Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport, arriving approximately six hours later than scheduled.
This incident contributed to an already hectic travel landscape, as travelers worldwide continued to navigate disruptions following a power outage at London’s Heathrow Airport, Europe’s busiest airport.
