On Sunday, 14 July, a 12-year-old boy managed to pass through security at Heathrow International Airport in London unnoticed and board a British Airways flight bound for Los Angeles without a ticket or boarding pass.
The airport’s police were called in to investigate the incident after the security breach. According to the telegraph, ‘The boy mingled with passengers getting on the flight and was only spotted when cabin crew asked to see his boarding pass in order to direct him to his seat.’
The unaccompanied minor, who had not been identified, was thought to be Dutch. According to passengers on the British Airways flight, he refused to disembark and so airport police were called to assist the cabin crew in accompanying the youngster out of the plane.
After the incident, all the passengers had to leave the plane and undergo a second security check in the airport, which ended up delaying the flight by more than four hours. One of the passengers, Rachel Richardson shared her experience on her Twitter feed.
So I survived my six hour wait at Heathrow but am now delayed on the tarmac because a young boy made his way onto our plane – BA269 – without a ticket. Big security breach. So much fun for everyone on board 🤪 We were meant to take off at 4.15pm. It’s nearly 6pm 😬
— Rachel Richardson (@RachelARich) July 14, 2019
Hey @British_Airways thank you for putting our safety first but it’s totally chaotic here as an entire plane goes back through security. Very little information from staff. Be thankful that the #DjokovicFederer nailbiter is keeping some of us amused pic.twitter.com/tlTVfU0mGn
— Rachel Richardson (@RachelARich) July 14, 2019
According to Richardson, when everyone finally got to board the plane again, ‘the passengers and crew greeted each other like long lost friends.
Back on the plane. Passengers and crew greeted each other like long lost friends. “Fancy seeing you here” etc etc
— Rachel Richardson (@RachelARich) July 14, 2019
Featured image: Unsplash
