Houston Man Charged for Boarding Flight with Fake Pass
A man from Houston is facing serious legal trouble after allegedly using a counterfeit boarding pass to board a United Airlines flight at George Bush Intercontinental Airport. This incident occurred on May 18 and has led to felony charges, according to court documents.
Abdulrahman Oluwatumike Oriyomi, 25, has been charged with obstructing or interfering with the operation of a critical infrastructure facility. The complaint filed in Harris County details how the incident caused a significant delay for the flight, leaving passengers stranded for about three hours and involving multiple agencies such as the Houston police, the FBI, and the Transportation Security Administration.
Prosecutors indicated that bail was set at $25,000 due to the disruptions caused. They emphasized the seriousness of his actions, noting, “The defendant delayed the flight for three hours on a fully booked plane.”
The complaint outlines that Oriyomi made it through a TSA checkpoint and attempted to board a flight to Los Angeles. Initially, he tried to scan his boarding pass at one gate but faced failure. He later managed to get to another gate where a United employee was checking boarding passes.
According to investigators, he utilized the distraction of airline staff to slip through the jetway and board United Flight 469. Initially, he took a seat next to another passenger before relocating deeper into the cabin. It was soon clear to witnesses that the seat he occupied was assigned to someone else.
The situation escalated when the flight attendants were informed of someone occupying the onboard restroom. Upon checking, they found that Oriyomi had no assigned seat. A subsequent look at the passenger list confirmed that the name he provided did not match anyone authorized to be on the flight.
The plane had already begun moving when it was brought back to the gate, prompting responses from various law enforcement agencies and security teams. An investigation into the boarding pass on Oriyomi’s phone revealed it was fraudulent, lacking essential information and a QR code. Airport officials deemed it a forgery.
Furthermore, court records obtained indicate that investigators concluded Oriyomi could not have received a valid boarding pass without making a payment.
Prosecutors have also requested several bail conditions for Oriyomi, including surrendering any travel documents, staying away from airports, refraining from possessing firearms, and possibly undergoing electronic monitoring if the court mandates it. It’s unclear whether all these conditions have been enforced.
No attorney for Oriyomi has been identified in public court records at this time. Meanwhile, representatives from United Airlines, Houston Airports, and the Transportation Security Administration have yet to provide comments regarding the case.
The matter is currently in process in Harris County’s 180th District Court.
