Passengers heading to China aboard a recent United Airlines flight faced an unexpected travel headache after a pilot’s forgotten passport prompted their return to the United States.

Flight UA198 from Los Angeles to Shanghai was over the Pacific Ocean on Saturday afternoon when it made a U-turn and headed to San Francisco, tracking data showed.

United confirmed on Tuesday to AFP in an email that the plane, a Boeing 787 with 270 people onboard, made a stop in San Francisco “as the pilot did not have their passport onboard”.

  • Catoblepas
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    6 days ago

    This has to be the pilot version of that nightmare where you’re back in high school and also naked. Maybe some teeth falling out too.

    Edit: based on the FlightAware log it looks like they were maybe an hour and a half out when the pilot realized they fucked up. Better than right before landing, I guess?