A United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Shanghai was forced to turn around midair after a surprising mistake—one of the pilots forgot their passport. Flight UA 198, carrying 257 passengers and 13 crew members, departed LAX on March 22 but had to return after two hours in the air. The plane was rerouted to San Francisco, where a replacement crew was arranged, delaying the flight by about six hours. Passengers expressed frustration, with many taking to social media to call the incident “embarrassing” and “unacceptable.” Some travelers, like Yang Shuhan from China, appreciated the pilot’s honesty but were left exhausted by the delay, which disrupted work schedules and connecting flights. Others were outraged, with a viral post on China’s RedNote app questioning how a professional pilot could make such a basic mistake. Aviation analysts criticized United for the blunder, calling it a “lack of discipline” for a major airline. The incident not only delayed those headed to China but also disrupted passengers on the return flight to Los Angeles. United provided meal vouchers and compensation, but for many travelers, the inconvenience overshadowed the apology. This mishap is the latest in a series of recent PR nightmares for United, including a lawsuit from a passenger who claims a pilot forcibly removed him from a lavatory mid-flight and another controversy involving a mother forced to remove her son’s breathing tube before takeoff.

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On March 22, United Airlines flight UA 198 from Los Angeles to Shanghai was forced to make a surprising U-turn mid-flight after one of the pilots forgot their passport. The international flight, carrying 257 passengers and 13 crew members, had already been in the air for about two hours before it was rerouted to San Francisco. A replacement crew had to be arranged there, causing a delay of around six hours.

Passengers voiced their frustration on social media, calling the situation “embarrassing” and “unacceptable.” Some, like Yang Shuhan from China, appreciated the transparency from the pilot but were still disappointed by the major disruption. The delay not only affected travelers heading to China but also caused scheduling problems for the return flight to Los Angeles. Missed connections, disrupted work plans, and general exhaustion were just a few of the consequences for those on board.

Many online users, particularly on China’s RedNote app, expressed disbelief at how a professional pilot could make such a fundamental mistake. Aviation experts also criticized United, citing a “lack of discipline” and pointing to the airline’s need for stricter operational checks.

United Airlines attempted to ease tensions by offering meal vouchers and compensation to affected passengers. However, for many, the apology fell short of making up for the inconvenience and stress caused by the delay.

This incident is yet another addition to a growing list of public relations challenges for United. The airline is currently facing backlash from other recent controversies, including a lawsuit involving a passenger allegedly removed from a lavatory mid-flight, and a separate case where a mother was reportedly forced to disconnect her son’s breathing tube before takeoff. Together, these events have raised concerns about professionalism and passenger care at one of America’s major airlines.