Southwest Flight Delayed an Hour After Robot Passenger's Battery Exceeds Limits

A Southwest Airlines flight was delayed for about an hour after a humanoid robot boarded as a passenger.

The 75-pound robot, named Bebop, was traveling from Oakland, California, to San Diego on Thursday, April 30. It attracted a crowd at the gate as it danced before boarding.

"A lot of people came, took videos and had their kids come and give it high-fives," said Eily Ben-Abraham, an employee with Elite Event Robotics of Dallas, Texas. The company rents interactive robots for events.

The delay stemmed from the robot's battery, which exceeded airline limits, according to the company.

The team realized the robot and its case exceeded Southwest's 100-pound carry-on limit, Ben-Abraham said. As a last resort, the handler asked if the robot could have its own seat.

"They all concluded that it would be possible and had it registered as a spot for an inanimate object," Ben-Abraham said. He noted that anyone can technically purchase an extra seat.

After boarding Flight 1568, airline staff raised concerns about the battery, leading to the one-hour delay. At the airline's request, Ben-Abraham removed the battery.

"I was told to be in touch with the confiscation department," he said.

The robot had flown successfully from Dallas to Oakland earlier. But Bebop was due at an event in Chicago later that weekend, turning the battery transport into an ordeal.

"We have family in California that was able to drive over five hours north and overnight it to a hotel in Chicago," Ben-Abraham said. "He’s still the main attraction wherever he lands."

Southwest Airlines confirmed the details in a statement to Fox News Digital. A customer on Flight 1568 had purchased a seat for a device whose lithium battery exceeded the maximum allowable size, so the customer removed it.

The airline added, "We appreciate the professionalism of our flight crew in addressing this situation. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees."

Elite Event Robotics posted about the delay on Instagram: "Delayed … but worth the wait. Bebop finally made it on board, and safe to say he’s still the main attraction wherever he lands."

Lithium batteries face strict flight regulations due to fire risks, with limits on size and transport methods, according to the Transportation Security Administration.

Online reactions ranged from confusion to humor. One commenter said the idea seemed to outweigh the planning. Another wrote, "That’s not a passenger, that’s freight."