Southwest Airlines has updated its terms of carriage to ban all human-like or animal-like robots from travelling anywhere on its planes, after a series of incidents where passengers have brought humanoids on board, raising questions about safety.
The Dallas-based carrier’s guidance now reads: “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.”
The update goes on to explain: “A ‘human‑like robot’ is a robot designed to resemble or imitate a human in its appearance, movement, or behavior. An ‘animal-like robot’ is a robot designed to resemble or imitate an animal in its appearance, movement, or behavior.”
@rentbots Pretty sure Stewie was the last humanoid robot allowed on a Southwest flight 😭 #southwestairlines #humanoidrobot #robotsontiktok ♬ original sound – 🧍🏾♀️🧍🏾♀️
Earlier this year, prior to a Southwest flight out of Oakland, a human-like robot was filmed dancing at the departure gate, causing curiosity and consternation among other flyers, with the incident posted to social media by Elite Event Robotics. The flight was reportedly delayed while the air crew worked out how to secure the robot, with the machine eventually placed in a window seat with its battery removed.
In a similar incident, Dallas entrepreneur Aaron Mehdizadeh booked a seat on a flight from Las Vegas to Dallas for his 106-cm-tall humanoid named “Stewie.” Again, footage that went viral online showed Stewie doing karate kicks before boarding the aircraft and walking down the aisle to his seat, watched by amazed co-passengers. “Most people were very excited to see a robot flying and [it] provided so much entertainment,” Mehdizadeh told CBS News Texas.
While Stewie was accepted on board thanks to being fitted with a smaller battery than usual, Southwest has now changed its policies, citing concerns over robot batteries and the safety hazard they pose. Authorities and airlines around the world have been scrambling to catch up with the implications of passengers taking lithium-ion battery-powered devices and chargers on board aircraft since the technology has been the source of a number of onboard fires.
A Southwest Airlines flight from Oakland to San Diego was delayed 62 minutes Thursday after an unusual passenger triggered extra safety checks — a 4-foot, 70-pound humanoid robot named “Bebop.”
— Turbine Traveller (@Turbinetraveler) May 2, 2026
Owned by Elite Event Robotics, Bebop was given its own seat after its case was too… pic.twitter.com/2yK2GY55Y2
The viral appeal of the humanoid or animal-like robots when seen boarding a plane means that tech companies and individuals have benefited from free publicity while causing potential operational problems.
Southwest has now made clear in its new rules that such anthropomorphic machines are no longer welcome. Robots that do not resemble humans or animals, however, will still be allowed under certain conditions: “All other robots, including toys, must be able to fit within a carry-on size bag and comply with existing battery restrictions,” Southwest said.
The carrier’s battery rules state that “each customer is limited to one power bank”, which “must be carried in the cabin; must not be placed in checked luggage; and must not exceed 100 watt-hours.” In addition, the bank “must not be placed in the overhead bin (if traveling with a smart bag, you must remove the battery before stowing the bag in the overhead bin) and should be stored in a personal item under the seat in front of you,” and “may not be charged onboard using in-seat power.” The device “must be visible (not stored in a bag)” when in use.
