Passenger Accidentally Boards Wrong Flight, Ends Up in Tokyo Instead of Nicaragua

United Airlines apologizes and offers travel credits after customer's mid-air realization of boarding mistake.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A United Airlines passenger headed from Los Angeles to Managua, Nicaragua, with a layover in Houston, accidentally boarded the wrong flight and ended up in Tokyo, Japan. The passenger reportedly realized the mistake mid-flight and asked the flight attendant why the trip to Houston was taking so long. United Airlines has apologized for the incident and offered the passenger travel credits as compensation.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the importance of passengers being vigilant when boarding flights, as well as the need for airlines to have robust systems in place to prevent such mix-ups. It also raises questions about airport security and boarding procedures, and whether more can be done to ensure passengers end up on the correct flights.

The details

According to reports, the passenger was supposed to fly from Los Angeles to Managua, Nicaragua, with a layover in Houston. However, the passenger accidentally boarded a flight to Tokyo instead. It wasn't until the passenger was mid-flight that they realized something was wrong and asked the flight attendant why the trip to Houston was taking so long. The passenger then landed at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan, and had to stay at a hotel for two nights while United Airlines sorted out a new travel itinerary to the original destination.

  • The incident occurred on February 10, 2026.

The players

United Airlines

A major U.S. airline that operates flights to destinations around the world.

Haneda Airport

An international airport located in Tokyo, Japan that serves as a major hub for air travel in the region.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We followed up with the airport to understand how this happened, reached out directly to the customer to apologize for his experience and offered travel credits and reimbursement.”

— United Airlines spokesperson (Fox News)

“Yeah... [if] by 6 hours you haven't arrived in Houston, something is wrong. I'd love to go to Japan by mistake, though.”

— Reddit user (Reddit)

“How do you accidentally board the wrong flight? There are so many things this guy should've noticed.”

— Reddit user (Reddit)

What’s next

United Airlines has stated that it is investigating the incident to determine how the passenger was able to board the wrong flight, and is working to implement additional safeguards to prevent similar mix-ups in the future.

The takeaway

This incident serves as a reminder for air travelers to be vigilant when boarding flights, double-checking their destination and flight information. It also highlights the need for airlines to have robust systems in place to ensure passengers end up on the correct flights, in order to avoid the inconvenience and disruption caused by such mistakes.