Passengers given $15 after pilot forgot passport on trip to China and turned around

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The passengers aboard a United Airlines flight heading from Los Angeles to China received a $15 voucher when it was discovered that the pilot had inadvertently left his passport behind.

For the 257 travelers aboard United Flight 198 departing from Los Angeles International Airport and heading to Shanghai Pudong International Airport, what should have been a routine journey turned into a harrowing ordeal.

As reported by CNN, the plane initially took off from LAX approximately at 2PM on March 22, but it needed to make a U-turn only two hours into its flight.

According to United Airlines, the pilot lacked their passport during the flight. As a result, they organized another crew to transport passengers to their destination that same night. Passengers were given meal vouchers and monetary compensation.

United Airlines gives passengers $15 after pilot’s passport mishap

Following a change in its destination to San Francisco and landing there at 5PM local time, the flight delayed its departure by six hours, taking off at 9PM instead of on schedule.

A traveler named Yang Shuhan informed CNN that they received two meal vouchers, worth a combined $30, and utilized them at an airport Japanese restaurant.

On a United Airlines flight, the pilot had to turn the plane around mid-flight, realizing they had left their passport behind. As a result, approximately 257 passengers received a voucher worth $15 each.

— TopMob (@TopMob) March 24, 2025

Additionally, she disclosed that the pilot admitted to the error via the intercom, and his tone indicated clear frustration regarding the incident.

Shuhan mentioned that she submitted a request for reimbursement to the company United, and they should respond within two weeks (excluding weekends).

Unfortunately, others faced some inconvenience as they had to postpone their meetings due to the incident, and adjust their travel plans to catch a connecting flight during their extensive trip.

Previously, a United Airlines pilot has made headlines before, but this time it’s due to more positive circumstances.

In 2024, an exceptional act by a pilot occurred when he treated 150 airplane passengers to 30 pizzas each, as a goodwill gesture after a 7-hour flight delay due to a passenger’s sudden need for medical care in the restroom.

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2025-03-25 23:48