Pilot Forgets Passport, United Flight Diverted Mid-Air Written on . Posted in -.
A United Airlines flight bound for Shanghai had to make a surprising U-turn—because one of the pilots forgot their passport.
The incident occurred on Saturday, March 22, 2025, involving flight UA198 operated by a Boeing 787-9, scheduled to depart from Los Angeles (LAX), USA to Shanghai (PVG), China. The long-haul journey of 6,485 miles was expected to last 13–14 hours.
The plane took off at 2:01 PM local time and flew for nearly 1 hour and 45 minutes across the Pacific Ocean. However, mid-flight, it was discovered that one of the four pilots did not bring their passport—an essential requirement for international flights.
As a result, the aircraft was diverted to San Francisco (SFO), a major United Airlines hub, instead of continuing to China. The plane landed at 4:54 PM, nearly 3 hours after departing Los Angeles.
United Airlines informed passengers that the flight was diverted due to an unexpected crew-related issue. While waiting for a new crew, passengers were given a US$15 meal voucher as compensation. The flight eventually departed for Shanghai at 9:01 PM and arrived more than six hours behind schedule, at 12:49 AM on Monday.
This rare incident highlights the importance of travel document readiness—even among professionals in the aviation industry.