......A 25-year-old Houston resident, Abdulrahman Oluwatumike Oriyomi, has been charged with a felony after allegedly using a fake boarding pass to board a United Airlines flight at George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
According to court records, the incident occurred on May 18 when Oriyomi passed through a TSA security checkpoint and later unsuccessfully attempted to scan a boarding pass at a departure gate. Investigators said he then moved around the airport before approaching another gate and allegedly slipped past airline staff while they were distracted, allowing him to board United Flight 469 bound for Los Angeles.
A passenger later noticed Oriyomi sitting in a seat that had already been assigned to another traveler. Flight attendants became suspicious after discovering someone inside an aircraft restroom as the plane began taxiing. When they located Oriyomi, they reportedly found that he did not have an assigned seat on the flight.
The aircraft was forced to return to the gate, prompting a response from the Houston Police Department, FBI, TSA, Houston Airports authorities, and the HPD Explosive Detection K-9 Unit. All passengers were removed from the plane while authorities investigated the security breach.
Investigators later determined that the boarding pass allegedly used by Oriyomi was fr@udulent, noting that it lacked key information and a valid QR code. Airport officials confirmed the document was fake.
According to prosecutors, the incident delayed a full flight by about three hours and disrupted airport operations. Authorities also alleged that the flight was ultimately canceled because of nonpayment.
Oriyomi has been charged with impairing or interrupting the operation of a critical infrastructure facility. A judge set his bond at $25,000 and ordered conditions including the surrender of travel documents, restrictions on entering airports, and possible electronic monitoring. The case remains under investigation.
