By avoiding security checks and hiding in the restroom of the aircraft, a stowaway was able to board a Delta flight from New York to Paris without a ticket. The person was found in midair and taken off when they reached Paris. The TSA and Delta are investigating the incident.
In a stunning twist of events, a stowaway avoided multiple security checks and boarded Delta Air Lines Flight 264 from JFK Airport in New York City to Paris without a boarding permit. One of the busiest days of the Thanksgiving travel season, Tuesday, was the day of the incident.
The individual, whose identity remains unknown, bypassed two identity verification stations at JFK and was able to board the aircraft undetected. According to the TSA, the person was physically screened for prohibited items but somehow managed to sneak past additional security protocols.
The stowaway was discovered during the flight, reportedly hiding in a lavatory, and was removed once the plane landed at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Passenger Rob Jackson, a real estate broker from NYC, shared his surprise on social media, recounting how the crew announced the arrival of French border police to “sort out the extra passenger.”
A video captured the captain’s announcement, confirming the unexpected passenger onboard.
The TSA and Delta have both voiced their concerns about the security violation while the inquiry is still continuing.
Delta has pledged to conduct a thorough investigation to find out how the stowaway evaded airport security. Authorities have not yet said if the individual was apprehended when they arrived in Paris or how they were not discovered throughout the flight.
