Russian national arrested after boarding Paris-Bound Delta Flight without a ticket

Authorities are investigating a security breach at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) after a Russian national boarded a Delta Airlines flight to Paris without a ticket.

Delta Flight 264 departed JFK on Tuesday night and landed at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris on Wednesday, carrying the unauthorized passenger. Upon arrival, French police boarded the aircraft to apprehend the individual.

A video shared on social media captured the moment passengers were informed about the situation. “This is the captain. We’re just waiting for the police to come on board,” the pilot announced.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) confirmed that the individual had passed through security screening at JFK without a boarding pass. TSA spokesperson Daniel Velez stated that while no prohibited items were found on the individual, the incident raised serious concerns.

“TSA takes any incidents that occur at any of our checkpoints nationwide seriously,” Velez said, adding that the agency is conducting an independent review of the breach at JFK’s travel document checkpoint.

Delta Airlines emphasized its commitment to safety and security in a statement: “Delta is conducting an exhaustive investigation of what may have occurred and will work collaboratively with other aviation stakeholders and law enforcement to that end.”

French National Police confirmed the individual, a Russian citizen, was detained upon landing in Paris. The person was denied entry to France due to a lack of valid travel documents, including a visa.

The passenger, who holds a valid U.S. residence permit, was placed in a holding area at the airport while arrangements are made for their return to the United States.

The incident has prompted scrutiny of security protocols at JFK, one of the busiest airports in the United States. A spokesperson for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which oversees operations at JFK, declined to comment.

Investigations by Delta, the TSA, and French authorities are ongoing to determine how the breach occurred and to prevent similar incidents in the future.