Southwest Airlines has banned human-like and animal-like robots from its cabins and checked baggage after a Dallas business owner flew one as a paying passenger from Las Vegas to Dallas Love Field.

Aaron Mehdizadeh, owner of The Robot Studio in North Dallas, brought along Stewie, a 3.5-foot humanoid robot he rents out for events. Instead of shipping the robot as cargo, Mehdizadeh purchased Stewie its own seat using a ticket type typically reserved for fragile or valuable items. He fitted the robot with a smaller lithium-ion battery to meet airline and TSA rules. Stewie walked through the airport, boarded the flight, and sat in a window seat on May 11. Passengers and crew reacted with surprise and took photos as the robot drew plenty of attention during the trip.

Two days later, on May 13, Southwest issued a companywide safety alert announcing the immediate ban on human-like or animal-like robots regardless of size or purpose. The airline told CBS News Texas the policy ensures compliance with lithium-ion battery safety guidelines. Mehdizadeh said the battery he used was comparable in size to a laptop battery and met FAA requirements. He hopes Southwest will reconsider so robots that satisfy safety rules can fly again.

The move comes after a separate Southwest flight was delayed for nearly an hour when another humanoid robot named Bebop, also from a Dallas-area company, had its larger lithium battery flagged as oversized. Lithium-ion batteries pose fire risks in aircraft, which is why airlines already restrict them in checked baggage.

Toy robots remain allowed if they fit carry-on size limits and battery rules. The new restriction affects companies that rent or transport humanoid and animal-like robots but does not impact standard passenger travel. No injuries or safety incidents occurred during either flight.

LISTEN on the Audacy App
Tell your Smart Speaker to “PLAY 1080 KRLD”
Sign Up to receive our KRLD Insider Newsletter for more news
Follow us on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube