A stowaway managed to evade identity and boarding-pass checks while traveling on a flight that departed from the United States, according to federal officials. A Delta Air Lines pilot announced on a jet that had just flown from New York to Paris that an extra passenger was onboard, prompting the airline to initiate an investigation into the incident.
A representative from the Transportation Security Administration stated that the individual passed through security screening without any issues but bypassed two identity and boarding-pass verification stations to board the aircraft. Specific details regarding the flight or the individual were not disclosed, and questions were directed to the police at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris.
Delta Air Lines confirmed that it was collaborating with law enforcement and aviation authorities to investigate Flight 264, which took off from New York’s Kennedy International Airport on Tuesday night and landed in Paris the following morning. The airline did not provide additional information regarding the nature of the investigation.
Authorities at the Paris airport indicated that they could not release information about the stowaway passenger.
A passenger on Flight 264, Rob Jackson, noted that the flight seemed normal until the descent into Paris, when he noticed repeated intercom announcements from the flight attendants. He remarked that it was unusual for such activity to occur just before landing.
Upon arrival at the gate, the seatbelt signs remained illuminated longer than usual. After the crew welcomed passengers to Paris, the captain informed them of the situation, stating, “We’re just waiting for the police to come on board,” as they needed to address the presence of an extra passenger.
Jackson observed six or seven police officers boarding the plane and overheard a flight attendant mentioning that a woman had been moving between lavatories throughout the flight without occupying a seat. The flight, which lasted approximately seven hours, was reported to be full.
The aircraft remained at the gate for around 40 minutes, causing frustration among some passengers with connecting flights. Jackson later heard other passengers mention that the stowaway had exited the plane.
Inquiries regarding the incident were referred by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates Kennedy International Airport, as well as the Queens District Attorney’s office. Neither entity provided comments by early Thursday.
Notably, the incident occurred at the beginning of what officials anticipate to be the busiest Thanksgiving travel week, with the Transportation Security Administration expecting to screen approximately 18.3 million travelers from Tuesday through the following Monday, marking a 6 percent increase from the previous year.