Pilot's Forgotten Passport Forces Flight Diversion

A United Airlines flight en route from Los Angeles to Shanghai was compelled to divert to San Francisco after the pilot realized he had forgotten his passport, causing significant delays for passengers.

Flight UA198 departed Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday at 2 p.m., carrying 257 passengers and a 13-member crew. Approximately two hours into the journey, the aircraft altered its course to land at San Francisco International Airport shortly after 5 p.m. The diversion was necessitated when the pilot discovered he lacked the necessary documentation for entry into China. United Airlines promptly arranged for a replacement crew, allowing the flight to resume its journey to Shanghai around 8:30 p.m. Passengers were provided with meal vouchers and compensation during the interim.

This incident marks the second occurrence within a week on the same route. On March 14, United flight UA857 from Los Angeles to Shanghai experienced a delay prior to departure due to a pilot not having their passport. In that instance, a new pilot was brought in, and the flight subsequently departed for Shanghai.

Instances of flight diversions due to crew members forgetting essential documents are uncommon but not unheard of. In 2019, a T'way Air flight from Vietnam to Seoul faced an 11-hour delay when the pilot misplaced his passport and was unable to enter the airport.