Delta Air Lines announced on Friday, August 18, 2024, that it is conducting an internal review of an incident where a man allegedly boarded a flight without a proper ticket at Washington Dulles International Airport earlier this month.
The airline’s statement comes in response to reports that the individual had been following a family through the terminal before boarding their plane.
Lauren Benton, a passenger involved in the incident, told ABC News that she noticed a man seemingly following her family, including her husband and two young children, throughout the airport terminal. Benton reported that the man even followed them into a women’s restroom. The situation escalated when the family boarded their flight, and the man followed, taking a seat in their row.
According to Benton, her husband confronted the man, prompting a flight attendant to request his boarding pass. When the individual was unable to produce one, he was removed from the aircraft.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) later confirmed that the man had a valid ID and boarding pass for a later flight, explaining how he was able to pass through the security checkpoint.
Delta Air Lines addressed the incident in a statement: “Delta has processes in place for gate agents and flight crews to verify that individuals onboard aircraft prior to departure are customers that are booked on that particular flight. Delta is reviewing the matter in question internally and has been in touch with airport authorities in conjunction with this review.”
This incident has raised questions about airport and airline security measures, particularly regarding the verification of passengers at boarding gates. As Delta conducts its review, the aviation industry and passengers alike will be looking for assurances that such security breaches can be prevented in the future.
AP
