It was an uncommon day on the job for Southwest Airlines workers when one passenger determined to fly home with a humanoid robot, prompting the provider to crack down on its baggage coverage.
The current traveler, Aaron Mehdizadeh, proprietor of The Robot Studio in North Dallas, Texas, was on his return flight from Las Vegas, Nevada, and determined to buy Stewie, the 3.5‑foot humanoid robot, a seat relatively than ship it as cargo.
Mehdizadeh purchased Stewie a seat by way of the ticket option for fragile objects, resembling wedding ceremony attire or gear. Like all vacationers, Stewie went by way of TSA and met all necessities for the security line and the airline.
According to CBS News, Stewie was permitted to travel as a result of it was fitted with a smaller-than-usual battery. It walked by way of the airport, navigating to its gate, and boarded the plane heading towards Dallas Love Field.
The company’s recognizable robots are sometimes rented as company for events, weddings, and conventions, offering leisure resembling strolling, dancing, telling jokes, and more. But this time, Stewie was a passenger on a flight, almost definitely for the primary and final time.
Stewie supplied distinctive in-flight leisure, based on Mehdizadeh, who shared a video titled “POV you accidentally got a major airline to update company policy” on X of the opposite vacationers being enthralled by the robot. Passengers and flight attendants have been shocked by the robotic vacationers, as they took photos, gazed at Stewie, and requested questions.
Southwest Airlines banned humanoid robots after one took a flight
Two days after Stewie flew to Dallas, Southwest Airlines issued a companywide security alert asserting that human‑like or animal‑like robots would no longer be allowed within the cabin or as checked baggage, no matter the scale or function.
“To ensure compliance with our guidelines for traveling safely with lithium-ion batteries, Southwest clarified its baggage policy to include robotic devices,” the carrier told Simple Flying in a statement.
We just got robots banned from Southwest Airlines. You’re welcome
According to Mehdizadeh’s post on X, he had tried and failed on multiple occasions to travel with his company’s humanoid robots because “batteries are always the issue.”
“This time we cracked it. Custom lithium pack, spec’d just under the legal limit,” he wrote. “Stewie boarded, buckled up, and flew like a completely normal passenger.” In the comment section, he detailed that Stewie went through the X-ray machine.
“This morning a Southwest employee leaks us the internal training they just pushed to EVERY flight attendant companywide,” he continued. “Mandatory. Urgent. With a photo of Stewie on the plane as the example of what to look out for.”
“We didn’t break a single FAA rule. Not one,” Mehdizadeh argued in his post. “They just weren’t ready for us. Robophobic? Arguably.”
Reactions to the humanoid robot taking flight on Southwest Airlines
The stunned reactions to the quick turnaround of a robot flying on a plane as a passenger, to South Airlines banning robots, were wide-ranging from excitement to fear on Mehdizadeh’s post.
“The US isn’t ready for how many laws & regulations are about to be changed in the coming years from the era of humanoid robots,” one user wrote. “God speed Stewie, hopefully he’s among the few who start the reform.”
Another user quipped, “Isn’t the plane essentially a big robot? It flies itself for 90% of a flight, doesn’t it?”
Someone else raised the concern: “How easy would it be for a robot to breach the cabin door, it’s dangerous.”
For now, not less than, Southwest Airlines passengers will not have to fret about robotic passengers on any upcoming flights.
