A surprising event unfolded on March 24, 2025, as United Airlines flight UA198 from San Francisco to Tokyo was forced to turn around over the Pacific Ocean — all because the pilots forgot their passports.
Although flight crews don’t always require passports for international travel, certain countries, like Japan, demand full identification from all airline personnel upon arrival. Lacking the proper documentation, the crew had no choice but to return to the U.S.
The aircraft landed safely back in San Francisco, and the flight was rescheduled. United Airlines issued an apology and promised stricter internal checks to prevent future mishaps of this nature. The event sparked widespread media attention and left passengers bewildered by the unusual delay.
