Stowaway discovered leaving the US for France

Woman found aboard flight from New York to Paris.

A shocking incident unfolded on a Delta Air Lines flight from New York to Paris when a stowaway managed to board the plane without a valid ticket or identification, officials confirmed. The unauthorised passenger was discovered mid-flight and later detained upon arrival in France.

The woman boarded flight DL264, which departed from John F. Kennedy International Airport and was bound for Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. Her presence on the Boeing 767-400ER came to light during the flight when a cabin crew member noticed her frequent and prolonged use of the aircraft’s lavatories. The aircraft, one of Delta’s larger models, has a seating capacity of 238 passengers.

Flight attendants cross-referenced the flight manifest, which lists the names and seat assignments of all ticketed passengers, confirming that the woman was not registered. Upon landing in Paris, the captain informed passengers via the intercom that police would board the plane to address the situation, instructing everyone to remain seated until the matter was resolved.

It remains unclear how the woman bypassed critical security measures at JFK Airport. A Transportation Security Administration (TSA) official revealed she had gone through advanced imaging scanners at a security checkpoint but managed to avoid ID and document verification. While her bags were screened for prohibited items, she somehow accessed the departure gate and boarded the flight undetected.

In a statement, the TSA confirmed, “An individual without a boarding pass was physically screened without prohibited items. The individual bypassed two identity verification stations and boarded the aircraft.” The TSA is conducting an internal review, while Delta Air Lines has launched its own investigation into the breach.

Delta emphasised the importance of passenger safety in a statement, asserting that they are working closely with law enforcement and aviation authorities to determine how the incident occurred. “Nothing is of greater importance than safety and security,” the airline stated.

French authorities and the TSA are pursuing separate investigations. The stowaway may face civil penalties or fines for evading standard security procedures.

This incident is not without precedent. Earlier this year, separate stowaway incidents occurred in Salt Lake City and Nashville, where unauthorised passengers boarded flights after passing through security. New biometric e-gates being introduced at international airports may help prevent such breaches in the future by verifying passengers’ identities and travel documents more rigorously.