A Texas man from George, Texas, is facing a felony charge for being a stowaway on a Delta Airlines flight bound for Austin. The incident occurred at Salt Lake City International Airport on March 17.
According to federal prosecutors, Wicliff Yves Fleurizard allegedly used a snapshot of a passenger's boarding pass to sneak onto the fully booked flight. Security footage from the airport shows Fleurizard taking a photo of a male passenger's boarding pass as they were preparing to board the plane.
After boarding the aircraft, Fleurizard reportedly spent a significant amount of time in the lavatory and attempted to claim a seat that was already occupied by a ticketed passenger. A flight attendant discovered that Fleurizard was not listed on the flight manifest.
As a result, the plane had to return to the gate, where Fleurizard was arrested by Salt Lake City Police officers. In his statement to the police, Fleurizard admitted to using a friend's buddy pass for Southwest Airlines but was unable to secure a seat on previous flights.
He explained that he was in a rush to meet family members visiting him in Texas from Florida after a snowboarding trip in Utah. Fleurizard acknowledged his mistake, stating that he was only trying to get home.
The incident highlights the importance of stringent security measures at airports to prevent unauthorized individuals from boarding flights. Fleurizard now faces legal consequences for his actions as the case unfolds in federal court.
