A man identified as Abdulrahman Oluwatumike Oriyomi allegedly slipped onto a United Airlines flight at a US airport without proper authorisation, triggering a major security alert, flight disruption and federal investigation, according to the US Department of Justice.
A routine departure turned into a major security scare after a man allegedly bypassed boarding procedures and boarded a passenger aircraft without authorisation at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas.
According to the US Department of Justice, Abdulrahman Oluwatumike Oriyomi passed through a TSA security checkpoint on May 18 before moving around different sections of the airport and attempting to gain access through multiple departure gates. Investigators said he failed to scan a valid boarding pass at several gates and reportedly had disagreements with airline staff before approaching United Flight 469 bound for Los Angeles.
What Authorities Allege
- Passed through airport security screening
- Attempted to access multiple departure gates
- Failed to present a valid boarding pass
- Allegedly boarded United Flight 469 without authorisation
- Triggered a large-scale security operation
- Faces a felony charge over the incident
PM NEWS reports that authorities said Oriyomi allegedly took advantage of a distraction at the boarding gate and walked down the jet bridge onto the aircraft. The breach was only discovered after the plane had pushed back and begun taxiing for departure.
Flight attendants alerted the cockpit crew after noticing the unauthorised passenger, prompting an immediate return to the gate. Passengers were evacuated while airport police, the FBI, TSA officials and airline security personnel conducted extensive searches, including checks for explosives. No threats were found.
Investigators later reviewed surveillance footage and examined the boarding document allegedly used by the suspect, discovering it had not been paid for and lacked the QR code required for boarding. The incident delayed the flight for hours and disrupted airport operations.
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