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An unticketed passenger in Seattle managed to evade security and airline officials before boarding a flight to Honolulu earlier this week, but the plane taxied out, according to Delta Air Lines and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). He was arrested at the time.
The fare evader, whose identity has not been released, boarded Delta Air Lines Flight 487 at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) on Dec. 24, bound for the Hawaiian capital just before Christmas.
However, before the Airbus A321neo could take off, the freeloader was discovered and removed from the aircraft. As a result of this accident, the flight took off approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes later than scheduled.
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A Delta Air Lines Airbus A321-211 – a taxi in front similar to the aircraft in Tuesday’s incident – departs from San Diego International Airport for Salt Lake City on November 18, 2024 in San Diego, California. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images/Getty Images)
“TSA can confirm that the individual passed standard screening and was not in possession of any prohibited items,” a TSA statement provided to Fox Business said. “The individual bypassed identity verification and boarding status checks and boarded a Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) aircraft without a boarding pass.”
It is unclear how the unticketed passengers were able to avoid the checkpoint and board the plane.
“TSA takes seriously any incidents that occur at our checkpoints across the country. TSA will independently investigate the circumstances of this incident at the Seattle/Tacoma International Airport Travel Document Checkpoint,” the TSA statement continued. There is.
A traveler passes through security at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) on November 29, 2020. (Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images/Getty Images)
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The agency says it will file civil lawsuits against passengers if there is evidence that TSA rules may have been violated.
Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines announced that the individual was arrested by law enforcement when the aircraft returned to the gate, and that TSA conducted additional security checks, including re-screening the customer.
“Because no issue is more important than safety and security, Delta Air Lines officials have taken steps to remove unticketed passengers from the plane and then arrest them,” a Delta spokesperson said. “We apologize for the delay in your travels and thank you for your understanding and cooperation.”
TSA officers wear patches on their uniforms. (Photo by Joe Radle/Getty Images)
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The airline says the investigation is ongoing, but early indications are that unticketed passengers boarded the plane at the gate without presenting a boarding pass. According to Airbus, the Airbus A321neo typically carries between 180 and 220 passengers.
The incident comes just weeks after someone allegedly sneaked onto a Delta Airlines flight leaving New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and was not noticed until the plane was about to land. in paris.
She was arrested after flight attendants deduced that she had been spending too much time in the plane’s bathroom. unusually long period.
FOX News’ Luis Casiano contributed to this report.
