Robo ban: Why this airline no longer allows humanoid robots to fly

The US low-cost airline Southwest Airlines has secured its place in the history books as the first airline to ban humanoid robots from flying on board. The ban in mid-May 2026 came a few days after the robot “Stewie”, which was only around one meter long, caused a stir on one of the airline’s aircraft.

Robot gets window seat

As CBS News reports, he was still happy about his window seat and the clouds flying by. The little robot also let it be known that everyone wanted a selfie with him.

Its owner, Aaron Mehdizadeh, head of robot developer The Robot Studio, had bought his own special ticket for him. This type of flight ticket is usually used when transporting delicate items such as wedding dresses or fragile equipment.

In a corresponding video you can see that the robot – AI-controlled – walks independently through the airport building, to boarding and then onto the plane. However, it also causes frightened faces and confusion, at least among the flight attendants.

However, the flight went off as planned. Mehdizadeh had specially installed a smaller battery in “Stewie” so that the robot could pass the security check.

Robo ban with reference to battery

Accordingly, Mehdizadeh was also surprised by the airline’s robo-ban. This was done with reference to the safety guidelines regarding lithium-ion batteries, as the airline told CBS News.

Mehdizadeh, however, explained that the battery he installed was comparable to the batteries installed in notebooks. And the airline has not banned these.

Another incident at Southwest Airlines

As Futurism writes, there is said to have been another incident with a humanoid robot on board a Southwest Airlines flight at the beginning of May 2026. There was a lengthy delay because the rental company Elite Event Robotics wanted to fly with a Unitree G1 on board.

Here too, a separate seat had been booked for the humanoid robot. After some back and forth, the flight only started after the robot’s battery was confiscated. This, according to the statement, was heavier than the airline’s guidelines allowed.

Humanoid and animal-like robots banned

Now robots, both humanoid and animal-like, are completely banned from Southwest Airlines flights. This applies at least to having your own seat on board or traveling in a piece of luggage in the cabin.

“Stewie” owner Mehdizadeh hopes the airline will change its mind. According to Mehdizadeh, humanoid robots should be allowed to fly as long as they meet the applicable safety regulations.