Fake Boarding Pass Leads to United Flight U-turn and Arrest

WHO:

CNN - Abdulrahman Oriyomi, 25, was charged with felony impairing or interrupting operation of a critical infrastructure facility.

CNN - Houston Police, FBI, and TSA were involved in the incident.

WHAT:

CNN - Oriyomi was found hiding in a United Airlines plane’s bathroom after boarding with a suspected fake boarding pass.

CNN - The United flight was delayed by about three hours due to the incident.

CNN - Oriyomi was charged and booked into jail in Harris County, Texas.

CNN - Oriyomi was held on a $15,000 bond and is due in court on Monday.

WHERE:

CNN - The incident occurred at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas.

CNN - The flight was from Houston to Los Angeles.

WHEN:

CNN - Oriyomi was first seen approaching a TSA checkpoint at about 5:45 a.m. on May 18.

CNN - The flight was scheduled to depart at 9:45 a.m. and arrive in Los Angeles at 11:28 a.m.

WHY:

CNN - Oriyomi attempted to board the flight using a fake boarding pass after his original reservation was canceled due to no payment.

HOW:

CNN - Oriyomi slipped past TSA security checkpoints and United gate agents using a fake boarding pass.

CNN - He was seen delaying speaking to a TSA agent and was escorted to another booth before being allowed through security.

CNN - Oriyomi approached gate D4 and pretended to show his boarding pass while walking past United employees.

(UPDATED June 8, 2026 01:39 UTC)

Abdulrahman Oriyomi, a 25-year-old, has been charged with felony impairing or interrupting the operation of a critical infrastructure facility after he was found hiding in a United Airlines plane’s bathroom with a suspected fake boarding pass. The incident, which took place at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, caused a delay of about three hours for the flight scheduled to depart for Los Angeles. Oriyomi has been booked into jail in Harris County, Texas, held on a $15,000 bond, and is set to appear in court on Monday.