A Houston resident has been accused of boarding a United Airlines flight at George Bush Intercontinental Airport without a valid ticket, resulting in a serious security breach that disrupted airport operations and delayed a flight scheduled for Los Angeles.
Authorities report that Abdulrahman Oluwatumike Oriyomi is facing a felony charge for impairing or interrupting the operation of a critical infrastructure facility. This incident has drawn the attention of law enforcement, federal agencies, and airport security personnel.
The events unfolded on May 18, when Oriyomi approached a Transportation Security Administration checkpoint in Terminal C. He presented identification, which allowed him to pass through security. After spending some time walking around the airport, he made his way to a departure gate.
According to investigators, Oriyomi attempted to scan a boarding pass at multiple gates but was unsuccessful. Witnesses reported that he had several disagreements with airline staff before leaving one gate and approaching another where United Flight 469 was preparing for departure.
During this time, airline employees became preoccupied with checking passengers’ boarding passes. It is alleged that Oriyomi took advantage of this distraction, bypassing gate agents and proceeding down the jetway without authorization.
Once on board, witnesses observed Oriyomi sitting in a seat near another passenger before moving around the aircraft. Court documents indicate that he later entered a restroom just as the plane was pushing back from the gate and beginning to taxi for takeoff.
Flight attendants eventually recognized that an unauthorized passenger was on board and alerted the flight crew. The aircraft returned to the gate, where a coordinated response from law enforcement, airport security, the FBI, TSA, and other agencies took place. Passengers were evacuated from the plane while officers searched for potential explosives, which were ultimately not found.
After reviewing surveillance footage and examining the boarding pass Oriyomi allegedly used, authorities determined that the document was invalid. The reservation had not been paid and lacked essential information, including a QR code necessary for scanning.
The disruption caused by this incident delayed Flight 469 for several hours. Following the investigation, prosecutors moved forward with a felony charge against Oriyomi for intentionally interrupting the operations at both Bush Intercontinental Airport and United Flight 469.
As of now, Oriyomi is not in custody. Authorities are requesting anyone with information regarding his whereabouts to come forward.
