A late-night bus ride in Seattle turned into an unexpected internet sensation after a King County Metro driver lost his way and had to rely on a passenger’s GPS to get back on track.

The unusual midnight commute occurred around 12:30 a.m. when the transit operator suddenly pulled the vehicle over. With only two riders left on board, the driver turned around to ask them if they knew how to get the bus back onto its scheduled path. Passenger Jordan Hamilton captured the conversation on camera, filming the driver as he admitted, “I missed it, I was just asking if you know the way.” Hamilton later shared the footage to Instagram, where it quickly amassed over 100,000 views and ignited widespread discussion online.

According to Hamilton, the bus remained stopped for roughly 20 minutes. Fortunately, the other remaining passenger stepped up to act as a temporary navigator, using his smartphone map to successfully guide the multi-ton vehicle back to its proper path.

While the wholesome teamwork amused thousands of viewers online, King County Metro officials clarified that drivers are strictly prohibited from using personal cell phones for navigation while operating a vehicle. Instead, agency protocol dictates that lost or disoriented operators utilize an official physical “route book” or call a dispatch supervisor over the two-way radio for immediate navigational guidance. Officials noted that drivers undergo extensive training and testing for assigned routes, but unexpected variables like construction, sudden detours, or stepping in to cover unfamiliar shifts can occasionally cause drivers to miss a turn. Luckily, everyone made it to their destinations safely, even if it required an impromptu, passenger-guided detour.