LAX Flight Turns Back Due To Passenger List Confusion

LOS ANGELES, CA — Passengers on a Tokyo-bound plane out of Los Angeles International Airport got a scare Tuesday when their plane suddenly turned around four hours into the flight because somehow a passenger with a United Airlines ticket boarded the All Nippon Airways jetliner.

However, it was all a mix-up. The crew thought they had an unauthorized passenger and told airport police to be ready for ANA Flight 175's return to LAX. The crew later discovered there was a mix-up that was ultimately straightened out, airport police told reporters. The flight departed again after 12 a.m. Wednesday, police said.

However, the mix-up disgruntled holiday travelers, who couldn't understand why the entire plane had to turn around fours hours into the flight.

Model Chrissy Teigen, who was aboard the plane with her husband singer John Legend, tweeted her confusion.

"A flying first for me: 4 hours into an 11 hour flight and we are turning around because we have a passenger who isn't supposed to be on this plane. Why... why do we all gotta go back, I do not know," she tweeted. "They keep saying the person had a United ticket."

LAX airport police said it wasn't initially clear why the plane turned around since no criminal activity was reported on the aircraft.

ANA explained in a statement that Flight 175 to Tokyo's Narita Airport returned to LAX because an unauthorized person was aboard.

"During the flight, the cabin crew became aware that one of the passengers boarded the incorrect flight and notified the pilot," ANA said.

"As part of the airline's security procedure, the pilot in command decided to return to the originating airport, where the passenger was disembarked."

The airline was apologetic.

"We take great pride in providing exemplary customer service, and on this flight we failed to do so."
ANA said it is investigating how the passenger managed to board the flight.

City News Service contributed to this report. Photo Star Max/IPx via Associated Press: Chrissy Teigen and John Legend are seen at LAX Airport in Los Angeles, CA.