A United Airlines flight bound for Shanghai from Los Angeles was forced to turn back just three hours after takeoff because the captain forgot his passport.
According to Jimu News, United Airlines flight UA198 departed Los Angeles for Shanghai on Monday but unexpectedly returned to San Francisco.
The plane landed at San Francisco International Airport at 4:51 PM, about three hours after its initial departure.
Passengers reported that the sudden return was unusual. One traveler told local media, “An announcement was made that the captain had forgotten his passport.” The announcement came after the plane had been in the air for about two hours.
Originally scheduled to arrive in Shanghai at 6:30 PM on March 23, the flight was rescheduled for 12:30 AM on March 24—a delay of about six hours.
United Airlines provided passengers with $30 meal vouchers at San Francisco Airport and offered alternative travel options for those needing to adjust their plans.
To land safely, the crew had to burn off excess fuel during their return to San Francisco, an operation estimated to have cost around 300,000 CNY (approximately $421,500) in lost fuel.
After a three-hour wait, passengers were able to board another flight to Shanghai with a different captain.
