Man with Fake Boarding Pass Boards United Flight, Exposing Major Security Failures

A Houston man with a fake boarding pass boarded a United Airlines flight at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) last month. This forced the aircraft to return to the gate, triggering a response from authorities.

According to a criminal complaint, 25-year-old Abdulrahman Oluwatumike Oriyomi’s flight reservation was canceled, and he used a fake boarding pass.

The incident took place on May 18, when police said he was seen on surveillance video talking to a TSA agent that morning. Oriyomi was then escorted to another TSA booth, where his picture was taken, and he was able to pass through security.

Former Secret Service agent Michael Matranga, who now runs the consulting group M6 Global Defense, said this was a security lapse. Matranga said, “I think this is a pretty significant breach, not just because of the fact that he ended up on the plane; it’s the multiple layers and failures to even get on the plane.”

Used the Fake Boarding Pass

According to police, Oriyomi approached a gate twice and used his fake boarding pass. The fake boarding pass was then scanned twice, but to no avail. An hour later, he appeared at a United gate. While United agents were distracted scanning boarding passes, Oriyomi walked past them and managed to board the plane.

Matranga said, “They’re not paying attention to his diversionary tactics. They’re distracted, they’re not situationally aware.”

Police said Oriyomi used the plane’s restroom as a hiding spot while it taxied to the runway. A passenger then alerted flight attendants. After flight attendants realized he shouldn’t be on the flight, the plane returned to the gate. The United flight was then met by police, an explosives unit, and the FBI.

Instead of being arrested, Oriyomi was issued a trespass warning that day. Charges were not filed until June 1, and he wasn’t arrested until Friday morning. Oriyomi faces a felony charge of impairing or interrupting the operation of a critical infrastructure facility.