United Airlines to Review Cabin Policy after News of Sleeping Passengers Left Overboard Surfaces

After multiple unsettling reports of sleeping passengers left onboard aircraft surfaced, it is becoming one of the most bizarre news items in the aviation industry this year. This has led to United Airlines reviewing its policy. 

Such reports of sleeping passengers left onboard after the landing of the aircraft have been making rounds on the internet and have left travelers and experts alike wondering how such oversight is allowed to happen.

Such incidents have occurred in places like Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), which is a known hub for United Airlines. This has raised important safety and compliance concerns under Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations.

Photo Credits: The Indian Express

These incidents usually involved sleeping passengers remaining unnoticed as the crew and other passengers disembarked. Under FAA rules, a minimum number of flight attendants must remain onboard any aircraft when passengers are still present. Failing to comply with this is an FAA violation as unattended passengers can face health risk or be involved in some security-related emergency. 

An internal review has been initiated by United Airlines to understand the cause of the problem and rectify it.

Leaving a passenger unattended—especially someone asleep or unconscious—is considered a serious safety risk. Such oversights, while rare, can have major consequences: Passengers could panic upon waking in a locked, empty aircraft. Health or medical emergencies could occur without any staff present. Legal and regulatory action can be taken against airlines for violating minimum crew requirements. Reputational damage could follow if such incidents become public.