Man Entered a Flight Without a Ticket and Reached His Destination

It is not what you think! He reached the prison instead.

While you might think that traveling is a safe and convenient transport method, it seems that is not always the case. A man accused of flying from Heathrow to New York without a ticket has been arrested by police. But, how did he manage to do that and how did he get caught?

Man Arrested for Entering Flight Without Ticket

A man named Craig Sturt was arrested by the Metropolitan Police in Richmond, London, around 8 am on Monday. He allegedly flew from Heathrow to New York without a passport or boarding pass and was detained on suspicion of failing to appear in court.

Craig Sturt, a 46-year-old from Slough, Berkshire, is accused of bypassing security checks at Heathrow Airport and boarding a British Airways flight to John F Kennedy airport on December 23 last year without a passport or boarding pass.

Craig Sturt was initially arrested around 8 pm on Christmas Day upon his return to London from New York. Scotland Yard stated that he was charged with offenses including obtaining services by deception, unlawfully being airside, and boarding an aircraft without permission.

How Did He Do It?

According to the charges, Sturt accessed airside at Heathrow’s Terminal 5 and boarded a Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner without paying for a ticket. Court records indicate that he confessed to the offenses at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court, scheduled for sentencing in January. However, a warrant was issued for his arrest when he failed to appear.

How Did the Police Handle the Situation?

Sturt was reported missing to Thames Valley Police on January 25. The Metropolitan Police took over the case on January 31. They are now leading the investigation into his disappearance.

The police force notified: “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 offenses. 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.”

A spokesperson from Heathrow Airport stated that everyone accessing the airside undergoes security screening, including the individual in this case. They mentioned supporting the ongoing investigation by the authorities. Additionally, a British Airways spokesperson mentioned assisting the authorities with their investigation.

What do you think? Would it ever be possible to enter a flight without a ticket?

You might also want to read: Man Boards Delta Flight With Fake Ticket. But, How?