Dancing robot delays Oakland–San Diego flight after Southwest confiscates its oversized batteries
A humanoid robot named Bebop caused a delay on a Southwest Airlines flight from Oakland to San Diego after its oversized lithium battery was deemed unsafe for air travel. The robot, owned by Elite Event Robotics, had been given its own seat on the plane following an event in the Bay Area. After the battery was removed, the flight departed about an hour late.
- ▪Bebop is a child-sized humanoid robot capable of dancing and serving drinks.
- ▪Southwest Airlines required the removal of Bebop's lithium battery due to safety regulations.
- ▪The robot was seen dancing at the airport gate before the battery was confiscated.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Metro Humanoid robot delays flight to San Diego after Southwest seized its oversized batteries By Daniel Farr Published May 1, 2026, 9:58 p.m. ET A Southwest Airlines flight from Oakland to San Diego turned into an unexpected comedy show Thursday after a dancing humanoid robot named Bebop caused a delay, confused airline staff, and sparked a lithium battery standoff that grounded the trip before it even got rolling. The flight eventually landed at San Diego International Airport about an hour late, according to FlightAware, but passengers arguably got more entertainment than inconvenience when Bebop showed up in the mix.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at US News – Latest Breaking Headlines, Photos & Videos | New York Post.
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