Posted on 06/30/2011 1:49:35 PM PDT by La Enchiladita
Los Angeles - A Nigerian man who flew from New York City to Los Angeles International Airport using an expired boarding pass that belonged to someone else was in custody today after being arrested as a stowaway aboard an aircraft, authorities said.
Olajide Noibi was arrested Wednesday morning, said FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller.
Noibi boarded Virgin American Flight 415 at JFK International Airport bound for LAX on Friday, Eimiller said.
After the plane took off, flight attendants noticed there was an extra passenger, and when they examined Noibi's boarding pass they noticed that it was from the previous day and bore the name of a different person, Eimiller said. He was questioned, but he was not arrested at that time.
(Excerpt) Read more at myfoxla.com ...
I wonder: what is the point of having a manifest, if it is not checked against a head count BEFORE takeoff? It’s been awhile since I worked at the airlines, but I thought that was how it’s done.
Alleged airline stowaway denied bail after judge says he may be risk to flee
As I recall, it is done by about a minute or two before the actual takeoff... There is simply no way to keep the passengers in their seats before the doors are closed, and if they are moving around you can't count them ("herding cats" is the scientific term.)
On the other hand, once the aircraft departs from the gate the crew has solid 5-10 minutes before it gets airborne, and every passenger is secured in their seat. Chances of a mistake are small, and in the worst case the airline risks only one unit of free transportation, a sunk cost anyway since they can't sell this seat after the doors are closed. This is cheaper than taking a couple of minutes on the ground, on every flight. They don't buy airplanes to keep them parked.
That's how I remember it, since I'm not a frequent flier by any means (especially in these days.)
I don't know where you got a Saturday court date. Noibi was in court today and denied bail.
Thanks for asking, my bad for not providing a hyperlink. Fourth paragraph from end.
Cheers,
OLA
Aha!! Thank you....
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