In a recent incident at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, a Houston man allegedly used a fake boarding pass to board a United Airlines flight, causing significant disruptions. The situation unfolded on May 18, and court documents indicate that Abdulrahman Oluwatumike Oriyomi, 25, faces a felony charge related to this event.
The charge involves impacting the normal operation of critical infrastructure, as noted in a criminal complaint filed in Harris County. Prosecutors called for a $25,000 bond, emphasizing the delay caused by the incident. The flight was delayed for about three hours, impacting all passengers and prompting responses from various agencies, including the FBI and Houston Police.
According to allegations, Oriyomi entered the airport, passed through a TSA checkpoint, and attempted to board a flight to Los Angeles. He reportedly failed to scan his boarding pass at one gate before moving to another. There, Oriyomi allegedly waited for a moment of distraction among airline staff to board the plane.
Reports state that Oriyomi sat next to another passenger initially, then moved, leading to confusion as the seat was already assigned. The plane had started to taxi when attendants realized a passenger was in a restroom. Upon checking, attendants found Oriyomi did not have an assigned seat on the flight, and his name was absent from the passenger manifest.
The flight returned to the gate, and several agencies responded. Investigators reviewed an image of a boarding pass from Oriyomi’s phone, finding it fraudulent due to missing information and a QR code. Further investigations indicated Oriyomi hadn’t purchased a valid ticket.
Prosecutors sought bond conditions, including surrendering travel documents and avoiding airports. It was not clear if these were imposed. Court documents did not name an attorney for Oriyomi. The case is active in the 180th District Court of Harris County.
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