Twice in Two Months: Passengers Allowed to Skip Customs at JFK
Passengers arriving at New York’s JFK airport from Cancun exited without having their passports checked. (Photo: iStock/danielfela)
It happened again: Passengers on a flight from Mexico were allowed to exit New York’s JFK airport without going through customs and passport control. When American Airlines flights 1223 arrived from Cancun, airline staff mistakenly directed an unknown number of people to leave the airport through the domestic gate rather than having their passports checked by US Customs and Border Protection first.
CBP spokesperson Anthony Bucci said in a statement: “CBP is working with airline personnel to ensure that all misdirected passengers satisfy CBP’s processing requirements. CBP, Terminal 8 airline security personnel, and the airport authority are conducting an investigation regarding this incident and will implement measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.”
Related: Passengers Arriving at JFK Accidentally Allowed to Skip Customs
American Airlines admitted the error, but the kicker is that the same airline made the exact same mistake just a few months ago in November — at the same airport, on another flight coming in from Cancun.
Related: Security Fail: JFK Let Me Fly With an Invalid Passport
This is one of a few recent security scares at JFK. Outside the airport, several drones have been spotted flying a little too close to aircraft. And inside, one of our own writers was allowed to board a plane with an invalid passport — only to be refused entry to Curaçao the other end and sent back to JFK.
WATCH: Know Before You Go — Passport Tips for Every Traveler
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