Passenger Boards Wrong Flight, Ends Up 8,000 Miles Away

United Airlines apologizes and offers compensation after traveler mistakenly flies to Tokyo instead of Nicaragua.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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A United Airlines passenger mistakenly boarded a flight from Los Angeles to Tokyo instead of their scheduled flight to Managua, Nicaragua, with a layover in Houston. The passenger realized the mistake six hours into the flight and ended up staying in Tokyo for two nights while the airline rebooked their travel.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the importance of passengers carefully monitoring boarding announcements and signage to ensure they board the correct flight, as well as the potential consequences of boarding the wrong plane, which can result in significant delays, inconvenience, and additional costs for the airline and passenger.

The details

According to United Airlines, the passenger boarded the wrong flight in August 2025. The airline said it investigated the incident, reached out to the passenger to apologize, and offered travel credits and reimbursement. The passenger reportedly realized the mistake six hours into the flight when they were already over 8,000 miles away from their intended destination of Managua, Nicaragua.

  • The incident occurred in August 2025.
  • The passenger realized the mistake six hours into the flight.

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, where the passenger ended up after boarding the wrong flight.

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What they’re saying

“We followed up with our airport team 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 (PEOPLE)

“We always advise customers to monitor the signs at the gate and boarding announcements to make sure the aircraft they board is going to their intended destination.”

— United Airlines (PEOPLE)

What’s next

United Airlines said it is investigating the incident to determine how the passenger was able to board the wrong flight and is working to improve its boarding procedures to prevent similar mistakes in the future.

The takeaway

This incident serves as a reminder for all travelers to be vigilant when boarding flights, double-checking their boarding passes and gate information to ensure they are getting on the correct plane. It also highlights the importance of airlines having robust boarding processes to catch such errors before they occur.