Pilot forgets passport, flight diverts to San Francisco

A United Airlines flight to Shanghai had to turn back after one of the pilots forgot their passport. The incident occurred on March 22, 2025, as flight UA198 was on its way from Los Angeles to Shanghai. The Boeing 787 took off at 2:01 PM and was on track for a long flight. However, after about an hour and 45 minutes in the air, it was revealed that one pilot did not have their passport. This led to a decision to divert the flight to the closer San Francisco airport. The plane landed in San Francisco at 4:54 PM, about 2 hours and 53 minutes after leaving Los Angeles. United Airlines informed passengers that the diversion was due to a crew-related issue and provided $15 meal vouchers while they sorted things out. Later, a new crew was found, and the flight left for Shanghai at 9:01 PM. However, this caused a delay, making the flight arrive over six hours late. Interestingly, the same flight had faced a three-hour delay the day before, with rumors suggesting it was for the same reason. This embarrassing mistake raised questions about pilot protocols at United Airlines. Many people wondered why the pilots didn't have their documents checked before departure, as these kinds of issues are usually avoidable. The flight diversion also led to increased costs for the airline and inconvenience for passengers. In total, this incident not only highlighted a rare blunder but also resulted in logistical delays and extra expenses for the airline.