By Tolulope Oke
A major security scare erupted at a United States airport after a man allegedly bypassed boarding procedures and got onto a departing passenger aircraft, forcing authorities to halt the flight and launch an extensive security operation.
The suspect, identified as Abdulrahman Oluwatumike Oriyomi, is now facing a felony charge over the incident at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas.
According to investigators, Oriyomi passed through a TSA security checkpoint on May 18 before moving around different sections of the airport and attempting to access multiple departure gates.
Authorities said he unsuccessfully tried to scan a boarding pass at several gates and was involved in disagreements with airline staff before approaching a gate where United Flight 469 was preparing to depart for Los Angeles.
Investigators allege that while gate agents were attending to passengers, Oriyomi took advantage of the distraction and proceeded down the jet bridge onto the aircraft without authorization.
The security breach was not discovered until the plane had already pushed back from the gate and begun taxiing for departure.
Flight attendants later realised an unauthorized passenger was on board and alerted the cockpit crew, prompting the aircraft to return to the gate immediately.
The incident triggered a large-scale response involving airport police, the FBI, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), airline security officials and other law enforcement agencies.
Passengers were ordered off the aircraft while security teams searched the plane and conducted precautionary checks, including screening for possible explosives. No explosives or other threats were found.
Investigators later reviewed surveillance footage and examined the boarding document allegedly used by Oriyomi. Authorities said the reservation linked to the document had not been paid for and lacked key boarding information, including the QR code required for scanning.
The disruption delayed the Los Angeles-bound flight for several hours and affected airport operations.
Following the investigation, prosecutors charged Oriyomi with impairing or interrupting the operation of a critical infrastructure facility, a felony offence that alleges he disrupted both airport and airline operations.
If convicted, he could face significant penalties under Texas law.
