If this guy got onboard without the proper paperwork it may not be a technological shortfall or systemic error of the type that the system can control.
Corruption and coercion make people turn their heads or take well timed breaks.
Our guy seems to be fringe of fringe. Disposable. Not one that they wanted to keep and develop. Son of a wealthy capitalist revolting against daddy.
Your theory of distraction could be right on.
Get everyone all hyped up on this while something else is going on.
Or...it could be that this guy was just a real pain in the butt and this was their way of getting rid of him and trying to get some other damage in the mean time LOL!
people coming into USA from certain countries are considered refugees and can come in without passports (interesting, we can’t even go to Mexico and back without a passport, but people from some of the poor African countries can come in without passports)..... there was some man with this guy who insisted he was a refugee (according to witnesses) and they managed to get him on the plane as such (according to reports I’ve read today).