Passenger sneaks onto Delta flight to Hawaii without ticket

An airline passenger without a ticket in Seattle managed to evade security and airline officials before boarding a Honolulu-bound flight earlier this week — only to be apprehended as the plane taxied out, according to Delta Air Lines and the Transportation and Security Administration (TSA).

The danger dodger, who has not been identified, got on Delta Air Lines Flight 487 at Seattle/Tacoma International Airport, bound for Hawaii’s capital, just before Christmas on Tuesday.

But before the Airbus A321neo could take off, the freeloader was discovered and removed from the aircraft. The incident caused the flight to depart about two hours and 15 minutes behind schedule.

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A Delta Air Lines Airbus A321-211 similar to the plane in Tuesday’s incident prepares to depart from San Diego International Airport to Salt Lake City on November 18. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images/Getty Images)

“TSA can confirm that an individual underwent standard screening and was not in possession of any prohibited items,” a TSA statement to FOX Business reads. “The individual bypassed the identity verification and boarding status stations and boarded a flight at Seattle/Tacoma International (SEA) without a boarding pass.”

It is unclear how the unoccupied passenger was able to evade the checkpoints and enter the plane.

“TSA takes seriously any incident that occurs at any of our checkpoints nationwide. TSA will independently review the circumstances of this incident at our Seattle/Tacoma International travel document control station,” the TSA statement continued.

Travelers go through security screening at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on November 29, 2020. (David Ryder/Getty Images/Getty Images)

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The agency says it will file a civil suit against any passenger when there is evidence that TSA rules may have been violated.

Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines says the person was apprehended by law enforcement as the plane returned to the gate, and TSA conducted additional security checks, including customer screening.

“Since there is nothing more important than safety and security, Delta people followed procedures to have an unticketed passenger removed from the aircraft and then apprehended,” a Delta spokesperson said. “We apologize to our customers for the delay in their travel and thank them for their patience and cooperation.”

A TSA agent wears a patch on his uniform. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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The airline says an investigation is underway, but early indications are that the unticketed passenger boarded the plane at the gate without presenting a boarding pass. The Airbus A321neo typically seats about 180 to 220 passengers, according to Airbus.

The incident comes just weeks after a person allegedly snuck onto a Delta Air Lines flight departing John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City and was not noticed until the plane was close to landing. in Paris.

She was caught after a flight attendant deduced that she had been in the plane’s bathrooms unusually long periods.

Fox News’ Louis Casiano contributed to this report.