We are far from the Christmas story. Because this incident poses the problem of the security of Nice airport. According to our information, confirmed by the deputy public prosecutor of Nice, Sabine Néale, a man indeed managed to sneak onto the tarmac of Nice airport.
The method is not trivial. It was 7:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday evening when a young man of 23, of no fixed address, presented himself in the departure hall of the airport. In circumstances that remain to be established, this homeless person born in the Var slipped onto a luggage conveyor and passed through the airlock leading to the baggage room. “The feat” is not thin. Passing through the automated baggage handling room, but obviously video monitored and manned by staff, he apparently managed to sneak onto the tarmac.
It was there that he was arrested by the air transport police and taken into police custody. The man hoped to slip into a baggage hold. Exactly how far he managed to get is unknown. “He wanted, according to him, to get into the hold of a plane to return to Tunisia to see his family. No object was found on him,” indicates the deputy public prosecutor.
“If the airport does not secure its runways, it is worrying”
On the passenger side, this intrusion did not go unnoticed. Nathalie B., from Menton, was supposed to take an EasyJet plane at 7:35 p.m. for Bordeaux. “We were waiting on the bridge to be able to get on the plane,” she explains. “Suddenly we saw people running in all directions. And we were left waiting.” According to Nathalie B., a technician will first tell them that someone had vomited and that they had to wait. “It was a lie to keep us waiting. But we could see that something was wrong.”
The Mentonnaise and the passengers remained waiting on the bridge for more than an hour and a half. “There were six ladies in wheelchairs, no one was with them, they were high and dry, like that. I find this unacceptable. It's a lack of respect for humanity.”
Finally, according to the Mentonnaise, it is the pilot, “irritated”, who came to explain the situation to them. “He explained to us that someone had wanted to hide in the hold of the plane.” After suggesting that a departure was possible at 11 p.m., EasyJet finally canceled the flight altogether. “We will not receive any compensation it is a security problem, they explained to us. But then, if the airport does not secure its runways, and that is worrying, it is up to them to do something!”
According to the passenger, all the luggage was taken out of the plane to be x-rayed.
Placed in police custody
Placed in police custody, the intruder admitted the facts and was summoned to appear in court upon prior admission of guilt at the hearing on June 6, 2025, for the offense of unauthorized intrusion into the side area. runway of an airport.
This serious incident raises many questions about airport security. When contacted, the airport platform did not wish to answer our questions, simply confirming and hiding behind the secrecy of the ongoing investigation.
