Traveler gets on flight from Tennessee to California — with no boarding pass, FBI says
A traveler was screened at security, boarded a plane at the Nashville airport and flew to Los Angeles — all without a ticket, federal officials said.
She was detained and questioned in Los Angeles, but charges haven’t been filed as of Feb. 14, an FBI official told McClatchy News. The case is still under investigation.
On Feb. 7, the woman was at the Nashville International Airport when she hopped an unmanned security station and got back in line to go through bag screening, WZTV and WKRN reported.
The woman and her carry-on items were screened without issue before she boarded the flight, the Transportation Security Administration said in a statement.
She made the cross-country journey on American Airlines, the carrier told McClatchy News.
“On Feb. 7, American Airlines flight 1393 was met by law enforcement upon arrival at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), the airline said in a statement. “Safety and security are our highest priorities, and we are assisting law enforcement in the investigation.”
The woman didn’t pose a physical security threat, TSA said. Once travelers are past security, individual airlines are responsible for the boarding process.
“All air travelers are subject to a robust security system that employs multiple layers of security, both seen and unseen including thorough screening at checkpoints, unpredictable presence of explosive detection canine teams, reinforced cockpit doors on all aircraft, Federal Air Marshals, armed pilots and a vigilant traveling public. In combination, these layers provide robust aviation security,” the agency said in a statement.
The Tennessee airport directed questions to TSA. In fiscal year 2023, Nashville International Airport served about 21.9 million people, which averages to nearly 60,000 passengers each day.
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