A 25-year-old man from Houston has been arrested for allegedly boarding a United Airlines flight using a fake boarding pass at George Bush Intercontinental Airport. The incident occurred on May 18, with court documents detailing a series of events that led to his arrest.
Surveillance footage from Terminal C captured Abdulrahman Oriyomi struggling with his boarding pass before seeking assistance from transportation security officers. Despite the issues, he was allowed to proceed through security after having his photo taken. Once on the other side, Oriyomi reportedly interacted with United Airlines employees multiple times, attempting to board different flights unsuccessfully due to his boarding pass failing to scan.
Around 9 a.m., he entered the boarding line for United Airlines Flight 469, which was headed for Los Angeles. According to court documents, Oriyomi strategically waited until airline staff were occupied before deceptively moving past them and onto the jetway.
Once on board, Oriyomi occupied an aisle seat but later went to the restroom, returning only to find his seat taken by another passenger. Eyewitnesses reported that he tried to evade detection by frequently returning to the restroom. His behavior raised alarms when a passenger alerted a flight attendant that someone was lingering in the restroom while the plane prepared for takeoff.
Despite multiple requests to take a seat, Oriyomi continued to retreat to the bathroom. When a flight attendant inquired about his identity, he falsely claimed to be “Mr. Lopez.” However, a check of the flight manifest revealed no one by that name was authorized for the flight, prompting the crew to return the aircraft to the gate.
Upon deplaning, passengers and crew were evacuated while the Houston Police Department’s K-9 unit conducted a check for explosives. Officers then confronted Oriyomi, who provided his real name. A United customer service manager indicated that they had found a reservation under Oriyomi’s name, but it had been canceled due to nonpayment.
Oriyomi received a trespass warning, but witnesses stated he caused a scene by recording the officers with his phone before departing the airport. The incident resulted in a three-hour flight delay for United Airlines.
Following the event, investigators determined that Oriyomi’s boarding pass was counterfeit after comparing it against genuine boarding passes and consulting with United Airlines personnel. He was arrested on charges of impairing or interrupting the operation of a critical infrastructure facility.
Currently, Oriyomi is being held at the Harris County Joint Processing Center and is set to appear in Harris County Court for a bail review. It remains unclear if he has secured legal representation. United Airlines has so far declined to comment on the incident, referring inquiries to law enforcement.
