‘What’s going on with this?’: California Southwest flight grounded for an hour over ‘unusual passenger’

Passengers on a Southwest Airlines flight from Oakland to San Diego in California were left waiting for over an hour because of an unusual passenger on board. The reason for the delay was not a person, but a humanoid robot named Bebop, which caused a series of problems before the flight could take off. I

Bebop is a 4-foot-tall, 70-pound robot owned by Eily Ben-Abraham of Elite Event Robotics. Ben-Abraham had purchased a ticket for the robot, which meant it was allowed on the plane just like any other passenger. The robot was headed to a scheduled public appearance, making the trip a professional necessity rather than a novelty stunt.

The robot was initially in an aisle seat, which broke Southwest Airlines’ policy for large carry-on items. After the crew flagged the issue, Bebop was moved to a window seat. Most people on the flight probably assumed that would be the end of it, but the problems had only just begun.

The robot’s oversized lithium battery was ultimately the real problem

After the seating issue was sorted out, the airline crew began asking questions about Bebop’s batteries. “Then they come and start asking, what kind of batteries does it have? What’s going on with this? X, Y and Z. They want to see it,” Ben-Abraham told ABC 7 News. The crew’s concern turned out to be completely valid, the robot’s lithium battery was larger than the maximum size allowed on commercial flights, and Ben-Abraham was asked to remove it.

Lithium battery regulations on flights exist for safety reasons, and airlines are required to enforce them strictly regardless of the situation. The fact that the battery belonged to a robot rather than a laptop or power bank did not change the rules. Once the battery was removed, the crew was able to move forward with the flight.

Southwest Airlines spokesperson Lynn Lunsford confirmed that Bebop was a valid passenger on the flight. Lunsford also said the airline appreciated how professionally its flight crew handled the situation. This is not the first time Southwest has had to deal with an unusual pre-flight problem, as a couple once delayed a Southwest flight with an absurd demand that held up the entire plane.

The flight eventually took off at 3:02 p.m., more than an hour after its scheduled departure time. Despite the long delay, Bebop still made it to its scheduled appearance at Digestive Disease Week at McCormick Place in Chicago. Elite Event Robotics shipped replacement batteries overnight so the robot could perform at the event on Sunday, meaning the delay did not end up costing the company its engagement.

One passenger on the flight, Cathy Brown, was not too bothered by the unusual situation. “You have to be open to any new adventure when you travel these days,” she said. Her reaction seemed to reflect the general mood on the flight, with most passengers taking the strange delay in stride rather than getting frustrated. 

However, not all Southwest passengers share that easygoing attitude, and some travelers who have stopped flying Southwest have spoken out about repeated frustrations with the airline. As robots become a more common part of everyday life, situations like this one are likely to happen more often. 

Airlines may need to develop clearer and more specific policies for handling robotic passengers, especially as companies begin using robots for public events and appearances that require air travel. For now, the Bebop incident serves as an early example of just how unprepared the travel industry might be for the growing role of technology on the road.