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After taking off at 2 pm, the United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Shanghai was two hours in the air when the pilots realized one of them had forgotten their passport.
The new flight reached Shanghai six hours behind schedule. . (representative image)
A United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Shanghai experienced an unexpected turn of events last week. After taking off at 2 pm, the flight carrying 257 passengers was two hours in the air when the pilots realized one of them had forgotten their passport, which was required for entry into China. The crew decided to divert the flight to San Francisco, where they landed at 5 pm. A new crew was arranged and another flight took off again at around 9 pm. The new flight reached Shanghai six hours behind schedule. United Airlines apologised for the inconvenience and provided passengers with a $15 meal voucher as compensation for the delay.
As per the statement provided to The Independent, a spokesperson said, “On Saturday, United flight 198 from Los Angeles to Shanghai landed at San Francisco International Airport as the pilot did not have their passport onboard. We arranged for a new crew to take our customers to their destination that evening. Customers were provided with meal vouchers and compensation.”
According to View From The Wing, passengers received an official message from the airline saying, “UA198 SFO-PVG: Your flight diverted to San Francisco due to an unexpected crew-related issue requiring a new crew. Once they arrive, we’ll get you back on your way to Shanghai as soon as possible. We sincerely apologize for this disruption and appreciate your patience.”
This isn’t the first time a pilot’s missing passport has caused flight trouble. Back in 2019, a T’way Air flight from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to Incheon, South Korea was delayed for almost 11 hour when the pilot lost his passport and couldn’t enter the airport. With no other option, the airline had to find a replacement pilot and left 160 passengers stranded. During the long wait, the airline provided meals and accommodations to all the passengers.
In a statement to Korea Times, the airline said, “We are currently reviewing disciplinary action for the pilot. We are also negotiating compensation with the passengers.”
The T’way Air flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Incheon was originally set to leave at 10:35 pm but couldn’t take off until 9:40 am the next day. Passengers had to wait overnight as the airline searched for a replacement pilot.
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