Given some of the other mismatched or improbable details in her report, I am uncertain if she was physically on the plane or at the jetbridge already when she noticed. Third from last to deboard and, say, only halfway up the aisle, it is pretty empty on board and therefore easy to simply turn around to retrieve, so I don't see a reason to ask FA anything in that case.

Anyway, this whole episode seems unworthy of a news article and much discussion (guilty on the latter). 🤷‍♀️ She forgot her airpods, she got them back, and United offered some goodwill comp to boot. Seems all good in my book.