During the busy holiday travel season, yet another incident of an unticketed passenger attempting to stow away on a Delta Air Lines flight has come to light. The individual, who remains unidentified, managed to board a flight from Seattle to Honolulu on Christmas Eve. Delta Air Lines, based in Atlanta, confirmed that the unticketed passenger was discovered as the plane was preparing to depart. Following protocol, the aircraft returned to the gate to remove the unauthorized passenger, who was later apprehended by law enforcement, as reported by the airline. The Port of Seattle, responsible for operating the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, took precautionary measures by deplaning all passengers and directing them back to a Transportation Security Administration checkpoint for rescreening.
Delta Flight 487 eventually departed from Seattle for Honolulu, albeit with a delay of 2 hours and 15 minutes. Delta expressed its commitment to prioritizing safety and security, emphasizing that the necessary procedures were followed to ensure the removal and apprehension of the unticketed passenger. In a statement to The Associated Press on Friday, an airline spokesperson expressed gratitude to customers for their patience and cooperation throughout the incident.
According to a statement from the Port of Seattle, the stowaway had passed through a TSA security checkpoint the day before the flight without a boarding pass, although they were properly screened. Additionally, the individual managed to access the loading bridge for the Tuesday flight without having their ticket scanned by gate personnel, as detailed by the port. Port of Seattle Police responded to a report of a suspicious circumstance shortly after 1 p.m. on Tuesday, with the individual having left the aircraft by the time law enforcement arrived. Thanks to video surveillance, authorities were able to locate the unticketed passenger in a terminal restroom and subsequently made an arrest for criminal trespass.
The TSA confirmed that the individual had undergone standard screening procedures and did not possess any prohibited items. The agency underscored its commitment to taking all incidents at checkpoints nationwide seriously, promising to conduct a thorough independent review. This latest incident occurred less than a month after a similar event involving a stowaway on a Delta flight during Thanksgiving week. Svetlana Dali, a Russian woman with permanent U.S. residency, managed to evade security measures at John F. Kennedy International Airport and board a Delta flight to Paris on November 26. She was apprehended upon arrival in Paris and subsequently returned to the United States.
This incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by airlines and airport security in preventing unauthorized individuals from accessing flights. As investigations continue and security protocols are reviewed, authorities remain vigilant in safeguarding the integrity of air travel and ensuring the safety of all passengers and crew members.
