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A passenger on a plane without a ticket in Seattle was able to get past security and airline officials before boarding a flight to Honolulu earlier this week — but was caught as the plane was leaving, according to Delta Air Lines and the Transportation and Security Administration (TSA).
The man, who has not been identified, boarded Delta Air Lines Flight 487 at Seattle/Tacoma International Airport (SEA) on December 24, en route to the Hawaiian capital just before Christmas.
But before the Airbus A321neo took off, the freeloader was spotted and removed from the plane. This incident caused the flight to depart approximately two hours and 15 minutes late.
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A Delta Airlines Airbus A321-211 – similar to the plane in Tuesday’s incident, earlier taxis from San Diego International Airport to Salt Lake City on November 18, 2024, in San Diego, California. (Kevin Carter / Getty Images / Getty Images)
“TSA can verify that an individual has undergone a routine screening and does not have prohibited items,” reads a TSA statement provided to Fox Business. “This individual bypassed the identity and boarding status verification stations and boarded the flight at Seattle/Tacoma International (SEA) without a boarding pass.”
It is not clear how the passenger without a ticket managed to avoid the search areas and board the plane.
“TSA takes seriously all incidents that occur at any of our checkpoints nationwide. TSA will independently review the circumstances of this incident at our Seattle/Tacoma International travel document screening facility,” the TSA statement continued.
Travelers go through security screening at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Nov. 29, 2020, at Seattle/Tacoma International Airport (SEA). (Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images / Getty Images)
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The agency says it will prosecute any passenger if there is evidence that TSA rules may have been violated.
Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines says the person was apprehended by law enforcement as the plane returned to the gate and the TSA is conducting additional security checks, including re-screening customers.
“Since there are no things more important than safety and security, the people of Delta followed the procedures for the passenger without a ticket to be removed from the plane and arrested,” said a Delta spokesperson. “We apologize to our customers for the delay in their journey and appreciate their patience and cooperation.”
A TSA agent wears a patch on his uniform. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
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The airline says the investigation is ongoing, but initial indications are that a passenger without a ticket boarded the plane at the gate without bringing a boarding pass. The Airbus A321neo normally seats about 180 to 220 passengers, according to Airbus.
This incident comes a few weeks after it was alleged that a person sneaked onto a Delta Air Lines flight departing from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City and was not noticed until the flight was about to land in Paris.
He was caught after a flight attendant discovered he had been sitting in the plane’s toilets for an unusually long time.
Louis Casiano of Fox News contributed to this report.
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