Southwest Airlines bans robots after humanoid ‘Stewie’ takes a flight
A humanoid robot named Stewie flew on a Southwest Airlines flight from Las Vegas to Dallas after being given a seat by tech entrepreneur Aaron Mehdizadeh, sparking public attention and debate. In response, Southwest updated its policy to ban all humanoid robots from both cabin and checked baggage due to safety concerns related to lithium-ion batteries. While the robot's flight was celebrated by some as entertaining, the airline cited compliance with safety guidelines as the reason for the new restriction.
- ▪A 3.5-foot humanoid robot named Stewie was given a coach seat on a Southwest Airlines flight from Las Vegas to Dallas on May 10, 2026.
- ▪Southwest Airlines updated its baggage policy two days later to ban all humanoid robots, regardless of size or purpose, citing risks associated with lithium-ion batteries.
- ▪Smaller robotic toys are still permitted if they fit in a carry-on and meet existing battery regulations.
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US News Southwest Airlines bans robots after humanoid ‘Stewie’ takes a flight By Jeanne Erickson Published May 16, 2026, 11:47 a.m. ET No bots allowed! A 3.5-foot humanoid robot scored a seat on a Southwest Airlines flight to Dallas, but the airline grounded the bot before it could earn frequent flyer miles. Tech entrepreneur Aaron Mehdizadeh, gave the robot, named Stewie, his own seat in coach aboard a May 10 flight from Las Vegas to Dallas instead of checking him in as cargo, according to cbsnews.com. But two days later, Southwest updated its travel policy to ban humanoid robots from the cabin and checked luggage, citing safety risks. 4 Stewie marches down the plane’s aisle.
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