Southwest bans humanoid robots from flights after viral incidents

Southwest Airlines now blocks humanoid and animal-like robots from traveling in the cabin or as checked baggage. The carrier confirmed the ban in an update to its website.

The move came after multiple incidents involving robots on Southwest flights drew attention online.

Viral incidents forced Southwest Airlines to ban humanoid robots

A Southwest flight out of Oakland sat on the tarmac while the crew figured out how to secure a humanoid machine someone brought aboard.

The robot started as carry-on luggage. The flight only took off after the robot was moved to a window seat and its battery was pulled out.

In another case, Aaron Mehdizadeh, a Dallas entrepreneur, bought a separate seat for his 3.5-foot humanoid robot “Stewie” on a Las Vegas to Dallas flight instead of shipping it as freight.

“Most people were very excited to see a robot flying and provided so much entertainment,” Mehdizadeh told a local media outlet.

To clear security, the robot flew with a smaller battery and was filmed walking through the airport terminal beforehand.

Lithium-ion batteries drive the ban

Southwest pointed to lithium-ion batteries as the problem since most humanoid robots run on them.

The airline said these batteries have caused fires on aircraft before, including one that forced an emergency landing in San Diego, according to NBC 5 Dallas.

The Federal Aviation Administration classifies all lithium-ion batteries as capable of thermal runaway. The FAA notes thermal runaway can happen without warning. Damage, overcharging, water exposure, or manufacturing defects can all trigger it.

Flight crews are trained to handle lithium battery fires in the cabin. But big battery packs inside humanoid robots are far more dangerous than anything the current carry-on rules were designed for.

According to Southwest’s updated guidelines, smaller robots and toys that fit within standard carry-on dimensions are still allowed, as long as their batteries comply with existing hazardous materials rules.

The airline’s baggage policy now states:

“Southwest Airlines does not allow human-like or animal-like robots to be transported in the cabin or as checked baggage, regardless of size or purpose.”

No other major U.S. carrier has announced a ban on humanoid and animal-like robots.

Robots are working in Tokyo’s Haneda Airport

While Southwest is restricting robots as passengers, other airlines are putting them to work.

Japan Airlines launched a three-year trial deploying two Unitree Robotics humanoid units at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. Those robots handle baggage loading, container transport, and cabin cleaning. Each unit costs ~$15,400.

JAL chose the humanoid form factor because airports were built for people, not wheeled machines. Bipedal robots navigate existing infrastructure without requiring facility redesigns.

Japan’s working-age population is projected to shrink 31% between 2023 and 2060, making the labor argument pretty clear.