Airline flight delayed for bizarre reason as humanoid robot triggers safety query

A humanoid robot had been brought on board as a passenger. But it couldn't take to the skies right away.

"A lot of people came, took videos and had their kids come and give it high-fives," Eily Ben-Abraham, an employee with Elite Event Robotics of Dallas, Texas, told Fox News Digital. Elite Event Robotics rents out interactive robots for events.

The delay in the flight stemmed from an issue with the robot's battery - which exceeded airline limits, the company said.

The situation began when the team realized the robot, together with its case, exceeded the airline's 100-pound carry-on limit, said Ben-Abraham.

"They all concluded that it would be possible and had it registered as a spot for an inanimate object," Ben-Abraham said, noting that anyone can technically purchase an extra seat.

But after boarding, airline staff raised concerns about the battery - leading to a delay of about an hour.

At the airline's request, Ben-Abraham removed the battery from the robot, he recounted.

"I was told to be in touch with the confiscation department," he said.

"We have family in California that was able to drive over five hours north and [then] overnight it to a hotel in Chicago," Ben-Abraham said.

Elite Event Robotics discussed the delay in a social media post after the incident.

Online reactions to the incident ranged from confusion to humor. 

Some people questioned how the situation was handled - with one commenter saying the idea seemed to outweigh the planning behind it.

Others questioned whether the robot should have been treated as a passenger at all.

"That's not a passenger, that's freight," one user wrote.

Fox News Digital previously reported that airlines are experimenting with robotic technology in other parts of the travel experience, including baggage handling.

Matthew Reigle of OutKick contributed reporting.