Additional Coverage:
- Houston man allegedly got through TSA and on a United flight with a fake boarding pass (themirror.com)
A Houston man now faces felony charges after allegedly using a counterfeit boarding pass to board a United Airlines flight at George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
Abdulrahman Oluwatumike Oriyomi, 25, has been charged with impairing or interrupting the operation of a critical infrastructure facility, according to prosecutors. The incident, which took place on May 18, caused a three-hour delay for a fully booked flight and triggered responses from multiple agencies, including the Houston Police Department, the FBI, Houston Airports, and the Transportation Security Administration.
Surveillance footage from the airport shows Oriyomi interacting with TSA agents at the Terminal C checkpoint. Court documents reveal that his photo was taken before he was allowed to pass through security.
Oriyomi then attempted to board a 7:18 a.m. United Airlines flight to Los Angeles but was stopped when his boarding pass failed to scan. Despite this, he remained at the airport and later boarded a different flight to Los Angeles about two hours later.
According to court records, he took advantage of a moment when airline staff were distracted, bypassed the gate, and walked down the jetway to United Flight 469. Once on board, a passenger reported that Oriyomi initially sat next to her but moved to the restroom when the seat’s rightful occupant arrived. The plane had already begun taxiing when flight attendants were alerted to someone being in the restroom.
Upon discovering Oriyomi, attendants checked the passenger manifest and found he did not have a valid ticket. The plane returned to the gate, and law enforcement officers quickly arrived. All passengers were asked to deplane while the aircraft was searched for potential threats.
Investigators identified the boarding pass as counterfeit due to missing critical elements, including a QR code. A representative from Bush Airport also confirmed the pass was fake.
A warrant for Oriyomi’s arrest was issued on Monday. In response, Houston Airports clarified that while they operate and maintain the facilities, all security screening is conducted by federal and local authorities.