A British man travels from London to New York on British Airways flight without a ticket or passport
A man boarded a British Airways flight without a ticket
GETTY
The passenger got on a flight with British Airways travelling from London to New York.
He boarded the plane without a ticket or passport by tailgating another passenger, it is believed.
The passenger, Craig Sturt, passed through security and passport checks during the trip that took place on December 24, 2023.
He travelled from London Heathrow Airport to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, where he was found to have no identification and was detained by security.
The flight took off from Heathrow Airport
PA
The passenger, from Slough, was returned to the UK the following day where he was arrested and taken to a hospital in Reading.
Sturt was charged with fraud and offences under the Aviation Security Act but failed to appear at Uxbridge magistrates' court in January.
Thames Valley police have now issued a warrant for his arrest and it is believed the Home Office is investigating.
Sturt's brother Lee Smith shared his concerns. "I don’t know how Craig has managed to dodge security at the UK’s biggest airport and fly to America without a passport and ticket," he told The Sun on Sunday.
"It’s ridiculous this could happen. I thought, ‘that can’t be right. He doesn’t even have a passport’.
“I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I have no idea how he managed to pull it off. I know it’s a serious issue.”
A spokesperson for Heathrow said: “All people who go airside are subject to security screening, including the individual involved in this case.
"We are supporting the authorities with their ongoing investigation.”
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The man is believed to have tailgated others to get through
PA
A spokesperson for New Scotland Yard added: "On 24 December 2023 police were made aware of an alleged breach of security at Heathrow airport and a male was subsequently arrested and later charged with Fraud and Aviation Security Act offences.
“We continue to work with all our partners to review and enhance the already robust security measures in place which are kept under constant review by the wider security partnership.”
British Airways told GB News it is also assisting authorities with the investigation.