New York, USA – Amid the heightened Thanksgiving travel season, a stowaway managed to board a Delta Air Lines flight from New York to Paris on Tuesday evening. The stowaway, who did not possess a boarding pass, was able to complete security screening and bypass two identity verification and boarding status stations to board Delta flight 264 from JFK International Airport to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, according to a spokesperson for the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
Authorities are currently investigating how the individual managed to bypass the boarding stations, as Delta declined to provide further details while the investigation is ongoing. The stowaway went unnoticed by passengers until the flight landed in Paris, where French police were called to address the “serious security issue” onboard as passengers were instructed to remain seated.
One passenger, Rob Jackson, recounted that the first announcement regarding the stowaway was made after the plane had parked at the gate, and the captain informed passengers that police were boarding the aircraft to address the situation.
Despite the flight being completely full, there were no available seats for the stowaway, raising concerns about the breach in security protocols. A Delta spokesperson emphasized the airline’s commitment to safety and security, stating that an exhaustive investigation is being conducted in collaboration with other aviation stakeholders and law enforcement.
Efforts to gather more information on the incident have led to outreach to the FBI and Charles de Gaulle Airport for their insights. The incident highlights the importance of vigilance and adherence to security protocols in the aviation industry to ensure passenger safety and security are maintained at all times.