Man Arrested for Stowing Away on Delta Flight Using Stolen Boarding Pass
A 26-year-old man named Wicliff Yves Fleurizard from Texas was arrested at Salt Lake City International Airport on Sunday after he boarded a Delta Air Lines flight to Austin without a valid ticket. According to the complaint filed in the U.S. district court in Utah on Monday, Fleurizard took advantage of other passengers’ inattention and snapped photos of their boarding passes while they weren’t looking. He then used his own phone to gain entry into the aircraft.
Security Footage Captures Suspect Taking Photos of Boarding Passes
Before boarding the flight, the security footage at Salt Lake City International Airport revealed Fleurizard taking photographs of various passengers’ phones and boarding passes when they were momentarily distracted. Armed with this stolen information, Fleurizard was able to board the plane using his own phone.
Suspect Spends Time in Lavatory While Other Passengers Board
Once aboard the aircraft, Fleurizard made his way to the lavatory at the front of the plane and spent a considerable amount of time there while other passengers finished boarding. The complaint stated that after all passengers had boarded, Fleurizard exited the front lavatory and approached the back of the aircraft to enter the aft lavatory.
Flight Attendant Notices Missing Seat and Approaches Suspect
However, when Fleurizard emerged from the bathroom, a flight attendant noticed that there were no available seats and approached him to help. Unfortunately, the passenger who had purchased a ticket for seat 21F was already seated in it. The flight crew members verified that Fleurizard did not have a ticket or booking reservation, prompting the plane to return to the gate where he was met by law enforcement.
Suspect Claims Mistake and Tries to Get Home
Fleurizard told the law enforcement officers that he had been in Park City, Utah, for a snowboarding trip and needed to get home urgently to see his family. He explained that he had initially been booked on a Southwest Airlines flight earlier that day but was rescheduled for a later flight due to overbooking.
Man Held at Salt Lake County Metro Jail
Fleurizard is currently being detained at the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on a federal detainer. Delta Air Lines has cooperated with the investigation and issued a statement expressing their support for law enforcement and relevant agencies.
Delta Statement
“Delta is cooperating with law enforcement and relevant federal agencies regarding an investigation into a non-ticketed individual being escorted off an aircraft in Salt Lake City prior to a scheduled departure. We defer any additional questions to law enforcement,” Delta Air Lines spokesperson Morgan Durrant stated.
At present, it is unclear whether Fleurizard has secured legal representation. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of paying close attention to personal belongings and maintaining awareness of surroundings at all times.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Wicliff Yves Fleurizard was arrested for stowing away on a Delta Air Lines flight to Austin from Salt Lake City by using a stolen boarding pass. The incident was captured on security footage and involved Fleurizard taking advantage of other passengers’ inattention to snap photos of their boarding passes while they were distracted. The man was eventually caught when he attempted to enter the aircraft and was later held at Salt Lake County Metro Jail on a federal detainer.
Further Investigation and Prevention
The investigation is ongoing, and further details about Fleurizard’s background and motives are expected to be uncovered. Passengers should always protect their personal belongings, including boarding passes, during travel to avoid falling victim to similar incidents.
Sources
The information in this article was gathered from the complaint filed in U.S. district court in Utah on Monday.
