FBI Probes Man Who Shipped Self to Dallas

AP ^ | Tue, Sep 09, 2003

[presidio9]

Federal agents say they are investigating how a man succeeded in stowing away in a cargo plane on a flight from New York to Dallas by shipping himself in a wooden crate.

After hours of traveling, Charles McKinley, 25, of New York City, pried open the crate with a crowbar Saturday morning, authorities said. He popped up outside his parents' doorstep in suburban DeSoto, shook the hand of a shocked deliveryman and walked away, The Dallas Morning News reported Tuesday.

The deliveryman called DeSoto police, who arrested him on outstanding Texas warrants.

McKinley has not been charged with a crime, officials said.

The FBI (news - web sites) and the Transportation Security Administration are investigating.

"It's amazing that the gentleman survived. It's absolutely a bizarre case," said FBI Special Agent Lori Bailey, a spokeswoman for the Dallas field office. "Our concern at this point is to determine how this was done."

Officials said McKinley's crate was put aboard a pressurized Boeing 727 operated by Indiana-based Kitty Hawk Cargo from Kennedy International to Fort Wayne, Ind. The crate was transferred to a second plane bound for Dallas-Fort Worth International.

A ground shipping company picked up the crate and delivered it to the residence of McKinley's parents. McKinley spent at least half a day in the crate and broke out just in time for the deliveryman to see him, authorities said.

Air cargo receives less scrutiny than airline passengers in the heightened security imposed after the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

"While this is a very unusual situation, we are fully cooperating with the regulatory agencies, the shipper and other parties handling this investigation," Kim Wiemuth, a spokeswoman for Kitty Hawk Cargo, said in a statement. "Kitty Hawk Cargo followed all current cargo security procedures."

[MineralMan]

"I mean, who the hell would voluntarily go to Dallas?"

Yeah. Except to transit to somewhere else at DFW. And even then....

[RoughDobermann]

I mean, who the hell would voluntarily go to Dallas?

Oh, come on now, dead. The only thing wrong with Dallas is that it's full of Texans...

[auggy]

" I would be terribly concerned that I would end up in an unpressurized compartment"

You could always take a small bottle of oxygen. Of course when would you know when to use it.

When you passed out, it would be too late.

[mtbopfuyn]

The only thing wrong with Dallas is that it's full of Texans

Them's fightin' words, pardner.

[kildak]

I already told you once we don't want you here anyway.

[RoughDobermann]

Them's fightin' words, pardner.

Lighten up, Francis...

[4mycountry]

>Them's fightin' words, pardner.<

No kiddin'. Don't Mess With Texas, now.

[RoughDobermann]

No kiddin'. Don't Mess With Texas, now.

Sorry. Not impressed. Now or ever.

[4mycountry]

FBI Probes Man Who Shipped Self to Dallas

You must have REALLY wanted to get here! :)

[Centurion2000]

I mean, who the hell would voluntarily go to Dallas?

Because it's the land of the free.

[4mycountry]

¬_¬

Please, if you're going to go ruffle feathers, get ready to stand your guns. Nothing says "coward" like a guy who insults others and then tucks his tail under his legs at any sign of retaliation.

[Eaker]

This is right up y'alls alley!!!

[William Tell]

Who dat? said: "I’m pretty sure nobody declared a person would be in the box."

How about:

Caution: Organic specimen: homo sapiens
Handle with care.

The guy might get by on some of the labelliing and declaration issues.

[Seajay]

Ever hear the Lou Reed song " THE GIFT " ????

[humblegunner]

I'd only fly first class!

[4mycountry]

Oops, waitasec..

here=there

Forgot that darn "t".

[GovernmentShrinker]

There are some pretty serious laws regarding unauthorized entry into secure areas of airports and commercial airplanes. Being in a box while breaking these laws is not a viable defense.

Heads need to roll in the security departments of the carrier and airports involved.

[chuckles]

>>>"stand your guns"<<<

Yeah, how many time have I bit my tounge, er, ah, typing finger, when I wanted to say Kalifornia deserves Bustawhatshisname! Let them find out about pure unadulterated commie juice. But I said, no, there might be one or two regular people out there so for their sake, I will keep quiet. Then some a$$h)le starts in on the GREAT STATE OF TEXAS! Well, they can just listen to the Dixie Chicks till their ears burst!

[Treebeard]

Hey, it's cheap, if a little cramped. The only problem is those "FBI probes" hurt.

[xm177e2]

If a terrorist got onto such a flight, and pried himself open in midair, he could try to make mischief with a fully-loaded cargo plane. We wouldn't even realize it was hijacked until too late.