A Texas man was apprehended in Salt Lake City for sneaking onto a Delta Air Lines flight using a photo of another passenger’s boarding pass. The incident, revealed in court documents, led to the arrest of Wicliff Yves Fleurizard, 26, on a felony charge.
Fleurizard is currently being held in Salt Lake County Metro Jail, as confirmed by the Salt Lake City Police Department. His arrest followed his unauthorized entry onto a Delta flight destined for Austin, Texas, employing a novel method to bypass usual checks.
Upon boarding, Fleurizard concealed himself in the lavatory to avoid detection during the boarding process. His presence became suspicious to a flight attendant who noticed the lack of available seats as the plane prepared for takeoff.
Confronted by the flight crew, Fleurizard claimed a seat that was already occupied, leading to the discovery that he was not listed on the flight manifest. The flight subsequently returned to the gate, revealing Fleurizard’s unauthorized status.
Fleurizard explained his actions by stating he was returning from a snowboarding trip and was desperate to visit his family. He recounted failed attempts to fly with a “buddy pass” from Southwest Airlines due to full flights.
Despite these setbacks, Fleurizard was screened by TSA using legitimate identification but employed deceitful means to board the Delta flight. Surveillance footage caught him photographing unsuspecting passengers’ boarding passes, which he later used for boarding, reports New York Times.
Admitting his mistake, Fleurizard said he was merely trying to return home. The FBI is currently investigating the matter but has yet to release further details.
No legal representation for Fleurizard had been recorded at the time of reporting. Delta Air Lines has expressed its cooperation with law enforcement and federal agencies in investigating the security breach.
This incident joins a series of similar cases where passengers have boarded flights without tickets, raising concerns about airport security protocols.
