LA-to-Shanghai United Airlines flight turns back after pilot forgets passport

Plane was over Pacific Ocean when pilot realized he didn’t have his document and headed back to switch out crew

Passengers heading to China aboard a recent United Airlines flight faced an unexpected travel headache after a pilot’s forgotten passport prompted their return to the United States.

Flight UA198 from Los Angeles to Shanghai was over the Pacific Ocean on Saturday afternoon when it made a U-turn and headed to San Francisco, tracking data showed.