A mother from Georgia is demanding answers from Delta as a man without a boarding pass followed her family onto the plane. The alarming incident took place on August 2 at Washington Dulles International Airport. Lauren Benton was flying home to Georgia when the incident happened.
Benton was with her husband and their kids, aged 6 and 9, when she noticed a man following them throughout the terminal. The man followed them to their gate. At one point, the man even went to the female bathroom while she was with her daughter.
She told ABC News, “My heart started beating immediately — I didn’t know what this man’s intentions were.” She added, “He was standing in the ladies room washing his hands, and I was immediately alarmed.”
Benton told USA Today, “With our children we were trying to create the perception that they were safe at all times.”
Man Follows Family Inside a Plane Without a Boarding Pass
The same man then followed the family and even sat in their row. At one point, Benton felt that she needed to say something as the kids were becoming anxious. She then decided to call the attention of a flight attendant and informed her of their situation.
The man was kicked off the flight but was discovered to be without a boarding pass for the flight Benton was on with her family. However, he had a boarding pass for another flight.
Security Sweep
Since the man was discovered without a boarding pass, the plane was evacuated and a security sweep was made. According to Benton, the security sweep took around an hour and a half to two hours to complete.
The Transportation Security Administration, Washington Airports Authority, and Delta Air Lines all acknowledged the incident. TSA told Benton that it is investigating the incident but later insisted to USA Today that there were no lapses. TSA’s reason was that the man had a valid boarding pass.
MWAA confirmed that the man was escorted off the plane, but no charges were filed. The man then continued to his original destination.
