A Texas man is facing a felony charge after authorities say he used what appeared to be a fake boarding pass to get onto a United Airlines flight at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston and was later found hiding in an aircraft bathroom. According to a criminal complaint, 25-year-old Abdulrahman Oriyomi slipped past TSA screening and gate agents on May 18 before boarding a Houston-to-Los Angeles flight that was later delayed about three hours.
Investigators allege Oriyomi first went through a TSA checkpoint after presenting a boarding pass and was then allowed into the terminal. Court documents say he was later turned away at one gate after failing to scan a boarding pass properly and having a dispute with United staff. He then approached a different gate, allegedly waited until employees were distracted, and walked down the jetway before boarding the plane. Once aboard, he reportedly sat in an empty aisle seat, then moved to restrooms multiple times after passengers and crew noticed he did not appear to know where he was supposed to sit.
Flight attendants eventually checked the passenger manifest and could not find a booking under the name he gave, “Mr. Lopez,” according to the complaint. After realizing he was not an authorized passenger, the crew notified the captain and returned the plane to the gate. Authorities said multiple agencies responded, including Houston police, the FBI, TSA and airport services, and a K-9 explosives unit searched the aircraft after passengers deplaned.
Investigators later determined that Oriyomi had tried to buy a ticket, but United Airlines had canceled the reservation because no payment was received. A photo of the boarding pass he allegedly showed airport staff was later reviewed and appeared fake, with officials saying it lacked key information and the QR code appeared forged.
Oriyomi was booked into Harris County jail and charged with felony impairing or interrupting operation of a critical infrastructure facility. He is being held on a $15,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.
The case has renewed attention on aviation security vulnerabilities, especially after other stowaway incidents in recent years. Authorities and security experts say such events are uncommon but raise questions about how passengers can sometimes evade multiple layers of screening. Similar cases have drawn scrutiny since late 2024 and early 2026, including incidents involving passengers who allegedly boarded flights without proper authorization or documentation.
The Transportation Security Administration said the person presented a valid boarding pass, went through standard screening, and did not have prohibited items. United Airlines referred questions to Houston police, while Houston Airports said security screening is handled by federal and local authorities.
The unusual breach caused a significant disruption at the airport and on board the flight, with officials saying law enforcement and airport agencies were tied up for more than an hour and a half. Oriyomi was warned for trespassing at the airport after the incident and left only after being told he could be jailed, according to the complaint.
