Passenger allegedly boards UnitedAirlines flight with fake boarding pass, forcing plane back to gate

A Houston man is facing a felony charge after authorities say he used a fraudulent boarding pass to board a United Airlines flight at George Bush Intercontinental Airport before the aircraft was forced to return to the gate, according to court documents reviewed by Fox News Digital.Abdulrahman Oluwatumike Oriyomi, 25, has been charged with impairing or interrupting the operation of a critical infrastructure facility in connection with the May 18 incident, according to a criminal complaint filed in Harris County.Prosecutors later sought a $25,000 bond, arguing that the alleged incident delayed a flight carrying a full plane of passengers for approximately three hours and prompted responses from multiple agencies, including the Houston Police Department, the FBI, Houston Airports and the Transportation Security Administration.“The Defendant delayed a flight for 3 hours with a full plane,” prosecutors wrote in a motion reviewed by Fox News Digital.According to the complaint, Oriyomi entered Bush Airport and passed through a TSA checkpoint before attempting to board a flight bound for Los Angeles.Investigators allege Oriyomi first attempted to scan a boarding pass at one gate but was unsuccessful.He then walked through the airport before approaching another gate where United employees were checking passengers’ boarding passes.The complaint alleges Oriyomi waited until airline employees were distracted before proceeding down the jetway and boarding United Flight 469.A passenger told investigators Oriyomi initially sat next to her before moving around the aircraft.

The witness later realized the seat had already been assigned to another passenger, according to the complaint.The aircraft had already begun taxiing away from the gate when flight attendants were notified that someone was inside a restroom on board.Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.

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