Photo: Ridofranz / iStock / Getty Images
A Houston man has been arrested and charged after authorities say he used a fake boarding pass to sneak onto a United Airlines flight at George Bush Intercontinental Airport last month. Abdulrahman Oriyomi, 25, was arrested on Friday and charged with felony impairing or interrupting the operation of a critical infrastructure facility in connection with the May 18 incident, according to court records filed in Harris County, Texas.
According to court documents and law enforcement statements, Oriyomi entered the airport’s Terminal C security checkpoint, where he reportedly delayed engaging with Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents and presented a suspicious boarding pass. He was escorted to another TSA booth for a photo and then passed through security, even though his flight reservation had been canceled and the boarding pass was a forgery,
Oriyomi attempted to board a Los Angeles-bound United Airlines flight at gate E16 around 7:10 a.m. but was denied after failing to scan the fake pass. He then lingered in the area for over an hour before joining a different boarding line for another Los Angeles flight. This time, with gate agents distracted, Oriyomi walked down the jetway and boarded United Flight 469.
A passenger soon noticed Oriyomi was unsure about his assigned seat and later moved around the plane. After hiding in a restroom, flight attendants discovered he was not listed on the manifest under the name he provided. The plane, which had started taxiing, was forced to return to the gate, where officers from the Houston Police Department, the FBI, Houston Airports, and the TSA responded.
Prosecutors allege the incident delayed the flight for three hours, impacting a full plane of passengers and prompting a multi-agency investigation. Surveillance video reviewed by police showed Oriyomi using "diversionary tactics" at several points during his attempt to board.
A TSA spokesperson stated the individual did go through standard screening and did not possess any prohibited items. United Airlines declined to comment on the case.
Oriyomi was questioned and given a trespass warning the day of the incident, but charges were not filed until June 1, after further investigation. His case is now pending in Harris County’s 180th District Court. Prosecutors have requested a $25,000 bond and additional restrictions, including surrendering passports and avoiding airports.