Flight from LA to Tokyo turns around after four hours due to 'unauthorised person'
Dec 27th 2017, 11:02 am
#1
Oscar nominated
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Moncton, NB, CANADA
Posts: 50,835
Flight from LA to Tokyo turns around after four hours due to 'unauthorised person'
Not the tale of intrigue it sounds,It appears that a rogue passenger managed to proceed from check-in all the way to the final boarding pass check at LAX and board the wrong plane
I can't believe the plane turned around. I was on a plane to Nice once, from Stansted or Luton, and the "welcome to flight whatever number to Nice" announcement revealed someone on the wrong plane.
I could understand as there were no boarding cards (Easyjet) and walking through doors and then along a bit before walking through a gap in the barriers there was a point at which there appeared a choice of plane. But as you've just followed a bunch of people through the departure gate for the Nice flight, having documents checked, you just follow them.
But if the bulk of passengers have gone through for your flight and you're still okay to go through your gate and start walking and then follow people to a different plane I can see how it might happen that you get to a seat and sit down.
But at big airports like LA, where the bus takes you or the plane is attached to a corridor, I'd have thought you can only go wrong by having the wrong ticket like Sydney NS rather than Australia or something.
Is it usual that a plane would turn back in these circumstances? I know he probably had luggage on another plane that would be removed.
I can't believe the plane turned around. I was on a plane to Nice once, from Stansted or Luton, and the "welcome to flight whatever number to Nice" announcement revealed someone on the wrong plane.
I could understand as there were no boarding cards (Easyjet) and walking through doors and then along a bit before walking through a gap in the barriers there was a point at which there appeared a choice of plane. But as you've just followed a bunch of people through the departure gate for the Nice flight, having documents checked, you just follow them.
But if the bulk of passengers have gone through for your flight and you're still okay to go through your gate and start walking and then follow people to a different plane I can see how it might happen that you get to a seat and sit down.
But at big airports like LA, where the bus takes you or the plane is attached to a corridor, I'd have thought you can only go wrong by having the wrong ticket like Sydney NS rather than Australia or something.
Is it usual that a plane would turn back in these circumstances? I know he probably had luggage on another plane that would be removed.
Dec 27th 2017, 12:32 pm
#2
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 101
Re: Flight from LA to Tokyo turns around after four hours due to 'unauthorised person
I think it's unusual. I understand security is important, but I don't think it'd be safer to turn back, particularly if you know who the "rogue" passenger happens to be.
I have experienced some dodgy security issues at airports a number of times. Most recently at London Heathrow to Belfast, where they have the boarding gates that link your boarding pass to a digital photo. I accidentally picked up my girlfriends boarding pass and went straight through, only once my girlfriend got stuck did we realize. So mistakes happen, either that or I look like an Asian female! ha
I have experienced some dodgy security issues at airports a number of times. Most recently at London Heathrow to Belfast, where they have the boarding gates that link your boarding pass to a digital photo. I accidentally picked up my girlfriends boarding pass and went straight through, only once my girlfriend got stuck did we realize. So mistakes happen, either that or I look like an Asian female! ha
Dec 27th 2017, 1:49 pm
#3
limey party pooper
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 9,982
Re: Flight from LA to Tokyo turns around after four hours due to 'unauthorised person
Wasn't he in someone else's seat?
Dec 27th 2017, 2:10 pm
#4
Oscar nominated
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Moncton, NB, CANADA
Posts: 50,835
Re: Flight from LA to Tokyo turns around after four hours due to 'unauthorised person
If it was full but it may not have been.
I found a BBC report that said the airline followed security procedures and I can understand that having a passenger you shouldn't have might be a security risk. But then someone who does that deliberately because they want to hijack the plane or blow it up is hardly going to tell the crew he's not supposed to be on the plane.
I found a BBC report that said the airline followed security procedures and I can understand that having a passenger you shouldn't have might be a security risk. But then someone who does that deliberately because they want to hijack the plane or blow it up is hardly going to tell the crew he's not supposed to be on the plane.
Dec 27th 2017, 7:23 pm
#5
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Posts: 93,814
Re: Flight from LA to Tokyo turns around after four hours due to 'unauthorised person
There would be the financial/legal position for the airline to consider - if the pilot advises the company there is an 'unauthorised person' on board an international flight, then they have to consider what to do with the person at the other end. On landing in Tokyo the passenger becomes subject to Japanese immigration requirements, and if they do not have the right documentation to be admitted to Japan the airline will be fined heavily, and have to fly the person back to point of origin, at their expense.
Quite possibly cheaper and less hassle to turn round.
Quite possibly cheaper and less hassle to turn round.
Dec 27th 2017, 7:39 pm
#6
limey party pooper
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 9,982
Re: Flight from LA to Tokyo turns around after four hours due to 'unauthorised person
There would be the financial/legal position for the airline to consider - if the pilot advises the company there is an 'unauthorised person' on board an international flight, then they have to consider what to do with the person at the other end. On landing in Tokyo the passenger becomes subject to Japanese immigration requirements, and if they do not have the right documentation to be admitted to Japan the airline will be fined heavily, and have to fly the person back to point of origin, at their expense.
Quite possibly cheaper and less hassle to turn round.
Quite possibly cheaper and less hassle to turn round.
Dec 27th 2017, 10:26 pm
#7
Oscar nominated
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Moncton, NB, CANADA
Posts: 50,835
Re: Flight from LA to Tokyo turns around after four hours due to 'unauthorised person
On landing in Tokyo the passenger becomes subject to Japanese immigration requirements, and if they do not have the right documentation to be admitted to Japan the airline will be fined heavily, and have to fly the person back to point of origin, at their expense.
Quite possibly cheaper and less hassle to turn round.
Quite possibly cheaper and less hassle to turn round.
The model on the flight whose tweets appear to have been the cause of this making headlines apparently was back on a flight 6 hours after they arrived back at LA.
Apparently there were 150 passengers - doesn't sound full.
With the 8 hours in the air, then another 6 before the next flight there's a 14 hour delay. I think a $3500 fine and flying him back would be cheaper than the costs of hospitality, compensation for late arrival and the expenses involved in finding flights for all the others. Possible costs for knock on effect to other flights and passengers too.
Dec 27th 2017, 10:46 pm
#8
limey party pooper
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 9,982
Re: Flight from LA to Tokyo turns around after four hours due to 'unauthorised person
Apparently fines average @ $3500 for each passenger without documentation.
The model on the flight whose tweets appear to have been the cause of this making headlines apparently was back on a flight 6 hours after they arrived back at LA.
Apparently there were 150 passengers - doesn't sound full.
With the 8 hours in the air, then another 6 before the next flight there's a 14 hour delay. I think a $3500 fine and flying him back would be cheaper than the costs of hospitality, compensation for late arrival and the expenses involved in finding flights for all the others. Possible costs for knock on effect to other flights and passengers too.
The model on the flight whose tweets appear to have been the cause of this making headlines apparently was back on a flight 6 hours after they arrived back at LA.
Apparently there were 150 passengers - doesn't sound full.
With the 8 hours in the air, then another 6 before the next flight there's a 14 hour delay. I think a $3500 fine and flying him back would be cheaper than the costs of hospitality, compensation for late arrival and the expenses involved in finding flights for all the others. Possible costs for knock on effect to other flights and passengers too.
Dec 27th 2017, 11:09 pm
#9
Account Closed
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 0
Re: Flight from LA to Tokyo turns around after four hours due to 'unauthorised person
From what I understand the passenger in question was with his brother who had a ticket on the ANA flight but the passenger in question was booked on United Airlines possibly to the same destination.
United and ANA codeshare so they may have thought both were on the ANA flight.
The gate agents should have caught it however and never allowed the individual to board.
United and ANA codeshare so they may have thought both were on the ANA flight.
The gate agents should have caught it however and never allowed the individual to board.
Dec 27th 2017, 11:11 pm
#10
Oscar nominated
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Moncton, NB, CANADA
Posts: 50,835
Re: Flight from LA to Tokyo turns around after four hours due to 'unauthorised person
The report quoted a spokesman as saying "the airline worked out that the incident was just a mix-up while it was still in the air, but decided to return to LAX nonetheless" so probably Tokyo airport didn't even know.
