Southwest Airlines Bans Robot Passengers After Humanoid Stewie’s Viral Flight

Southwest Airlines has banned humanoid and animal‑like robots from cabins and checked baggage after a viral incident involving “Stewie,” a 3.5‑foot humanoid robot owned by Dallas entrepreneur Aaron Mehdizadeh. Stewie boarded a Las Vegas–Dallas flight, passed TSA screening with a modified battery, and charmed passengers with pre‑programmed quips, briefly becoming the star of the cabin. Days later, Southwest cited lithium‑ion battery safety concerns and issued a blanket ban, following another case where a robot named Bebop caused a tarmac delay. Mehdizadeh disputes the policy, arguing Stewie’s battery was laptop‑sized and posed no unusual risk.