Major security breach at New York's JFK airport. A stowaway passenger flew aboard a Delta Air Lines flight Tuesday evening from New York's JFK International Airport to Paris Charles-de-Gaulle, American authorities said. A failing that is worrying, especially during this Thanksgiving period when millions of Americans are taking planes.
The woman, who did not have a boarding pass, managed to pass through security and bypass two identity checkpoints as well as the final boarding check to board the plane , according to a spokesperson for the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Information confirmed by the airline to CNN. The individual was not carrying any prohibited items.
At this time, it is not known how the passenger managed to slip through the cracks, and Delta Airlines declined to provide additional details. The incident remains under investigation by federal authorities.
It was a flight attendant who raised the alarm after becoming suspicious of the passenger's long trips to the toilet, reports The Independent. According to the British media, the woman was found in the cabin more than six hours after takeoff, or 1h30 before landing in Paris.
Other travelers were alerted to the stowaway's presence only when the plane landed in Paris, according to Rob Jackson, a passenger on Delta Flight 264 interviewed by CNN. “The first announcement to passengers was that there was a problem. It was when we arrived at the boarding gate that they asked us to remain seated because the French police were going to board the plane in front of us. a serious security problem “, says the man, who indicates that he did not see the passenger. According to Rob Jackson, the flight was full and there appeared to be no seats available.
“Nothing is more important than matters of safety and security,” a Delta spokesperson said in a statement. “This is why Delta is conducting an exhaustive investigation into what may have happened and will work in collaboration with other aviation stakeholders and law enforcement to this end,” concludes the American company.
