A California man's first ride in a Waymo robotaxi turned into a travel nightmare when the vehicle drove off with his suitcase still in the trunk.
Di Jin took the driverless taxi from Sunnyvale, California, to San José Mineta International Airport. After exiting, he pressed the trunk release button, but nothing happened. The car then pulled away with his luggage, leaving him stranded without his clothes, laptop, or work documents.
Waymo customer service told Jin the vehicle was already en route to a depot and could not be turned around. The company later recovered the suitcase but initially refused to cover shipping costs, offering only two free rides to retrieve it. After Jin pushed back, Waymo agreed to pay for shipping.
The incident highlights the challenges of autonomous airport travel. San José Mineta International became the first commercial airport in California to offer fully autonomous ride-hailing in November 2025. With a human driver, a passenger could knock on the trunk or wave for help. With a robotaxi, the entire experience depends on software and remote support.
Experts advise riders to keep critical items like ID, medication, and laptops in the cabin, open the trunk before ending the ride, and contact support immediately if luggage remains inside.