A recent incident at a California airport left a traveler in quite a predicament when a self-driving Waymo taxi unexpectedly drove off with his belongings securely locked in the trunk. The episode unfolded at San Jose International Airport, leaving the passenger without his clothes, work materials, and no clear instructions on retrieving them.
Di Jin, a businessman hailing from the South Bay area near San Francisco, found his anticipated journey to the airport spiraling into confusion. This marked his first experience with a driverless cab, and what began as a routine ride quickly transformed into a chaotic situation.
The trip itself proceeded without any issues until it came to an abrupt end. As Jin explained, “I pressed the trunk open button, tried to get my luggage, but it doesn’t do anything, and it drives away immediately.” In a matter of moments, the autonomous vehicle had vanished, along with all his essential travel items.
Speaking with NBC Bay Area, Jin recounted how the self-driving car sped off, leaving him stranded and puzzled about how to regain possession of his suitcase. This unexpected turn of events left him scrambling, as the vehicle—and all his trip necessities—disappeared from sight.
‘I pressed the trunk open button, try to get my luggage, but it doesn’t do anything, and it drives away immediately,’ Jin told NBC Bay Area, describing how the autonomous vehicle made off with his suitcase still inside.
Within seconds, the car along with everything he needed for his trip, was gone.
Jin said he immediately contacted Waymo’s customer support, hoping the vehicle could be make a u-turn.
Instead, he was told the robotaxi was already en route back to its depot and could no be stopped.
Di Jin took his first-ever ride in a driverless taxi from Sunnyvale to San Jose International Airport but the trunk remained locked shut at the end of his ride and drove off with his luggage
The ride, operated by Waymo, was otherwise uneventful until the drop-off. Jin said the trunk failed to open when he attempted to retrieve his luggage at the airport
San Jose Mineta International Airport, pictured, became the first commercial airport in California to offer paid Waymo driverless rides in November
With no time to recover his belongings, Jin boarded his flight to San Diego empty-handed.
‘So I have no luggage, no clothes to change, and all my work notes are in my luggage,’ he explained.
Hours later, Waymo confirmed that his suitcase had been recovered but what followed only deepened his frustration.
A company representative told Jin: ‘While we would love to get this item back to you as quickly as possible, Waymo is unable to cover the cost of shipping labels or courier fees.’
Instead, the company offered him two options: Jin could pay to have his belongings shipped back, or he could use two complimentary Waymo rides to travel to and from a depot to collect them himself – a two-hours round trip journey.
‘It sounded terrible. It doesn’t make any sense at all, because it’s not my mistake,’ Jin said.
On its website, the company states it ‘is not responsible for items left behind in the vehicle after your trip ends and does not provide refunds or reimbursement for the value of lost items.’
But Jin said that it was no ordinary case.
Waymo offered Jin two complimentary rides to travel to Waymo’s depot and retrieve the luggage himself. The round trip to collect his belongings would have taken over two hours
Waymo’s policy states it is not responsible for items left behind after a trip ends
The company says trunks can be opened via a button on the vehicle or through its mobile app
Waymo driverless taxis are widely seen as part of the future of transportation
‘I already told them very clearly it’s not lost and found, right? I pressed the trunk open button, and it’s just not functioning,’ he said.
Waymo’s own guidance says passengers can open the trunk by using a button on the vehicle or within the app and that it should automatically open when a ride ends.
The incident comes as autonomous vehicles continue to expand into everyday travel.
In November, San Jose became the first commercial airport in California to allow paying passengers to use Waymo’s driverless rides.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Waymo for further comment.
