Southwest Airlines has updated its travel policy to prohibit passengers from bringing humanoid and animal-like robots onto flights, effective immediately. This ban applies to both cabin and checked baggage, regardless of the robot's size or purpose. A humanoid robot is defined as one that resembles or imitates a human, while an animal-like robot imitates an animal. The airline clarified that other types of robots, including toys, can still be brought on board if they fit within carry-on size limits and adhere to battery regulations.

This policy change follows a recent viral incident involving a humanoid robot named Stewie, which was purchased by Dallas entrepreneur Aaron Mehdizadeh. Stewie attracted attention during a flight from Las Vegas to Dallas after being fitted with a smaller battery for security compliance. Although passengers found the robot entertaining, safety concerns regarding lithium-ion batteries prompted the airline to implement this new restriction. These batteries have been linked to previous onboard fires, leading to emergency landings. Despite the ban, Mehdizadeh expressed hope that Southwest Airlines will eventually reconsider the policy and allow humanoid robots that meet safety standards.