A ticketless passenger was booted from a Delta Air Lines flight early Sunday at the Salt Lake City International Airport. He was allegedly found hiding within one of the plane’s bathrooms.
Officers reportedly arrested 26-year-old Wicliff Fleurizard of George, Texas, who was removed from Flight 1683 heading for Austin, per Fox News.
According to CBS News, the FBI is currently investigating the criminal complaint, charging the man with one count of stowing away on an aircraft.
What happened to Wicliff Fleurizard?
CBS News stated via criminal complaints that Fleurizard had traveled to Park City for a snowboarding trip. However, the man said he needed to get back home to see Florida-based family members visiting Texas at the time.
He claimed one of his friends gave him a “buddy pass” for Southwest Airlines, which got him through security. But he was unable to board and fly standby on a full Southwest flight, so he went down to the Delta gate.
Fox 13 reported that Fleurizard allegedly then took photos of several passengers’ boarding passes and phones, unbeknownst to the passengers — including one of a minor’s ticket. This photo was allegedly used to get him onto the flight.
Where did he hide, and how was he caught?
The man initially went to the front bathroom, then shortly moved over to the back one, per reports.
“Fleurizard spent a significant amount of time in the lavatory while others were boarding and he did not lock the door while occupying the lavatory,” the complaints report, per Fox 13.
The plane was taxiing to the runway when a flight attendant noticed Fleurizard leaving the bathroom, finding there to be no available, empty seats on the flight. Trying to assist him, the attendant found he didn’t have the right ticket, and the plane returned to the gate.
Fleurizard was then approached by officers for further questioning. He was being held in Salt Lake City on a “federal detainer.” He told authorities he “made a mistake and was only trying get home” from his trip, Fox News reports.
Have Delta, TSA and others responded?
In a statement provided to CBS News, Delta stated its currently “cooperating with law enforcement and relevant federal agencies” investigating into Fleurizard “being escorted off” the Salt Lake City flight. The TSA also stated that the man “was screened without incident at the security checkpoint … using a photo ID that matched the name on the boarding pass.”
Delta mentioned that Fleurizard “did not have a ticket for DL1683, operating Salt Lake City-AUS on March 17,” per CBS News.