Houston man charged felony for boarding United flight pass

A Houston man has been charged with a felony after allegedly boarding a United Airlines flight using a fraudulent boarding pass, forcing the aircraft to return to the gate and delaying the departure for approximately three hours. The incident occurred on May 18 at George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

Abdulrahman Oluwatumike Oriyomi, 25, is charged with impairing or interrupting the operation of a critical infrastructure facility. According to court documents, Oriyomi entered the airport and passed through a Transportation Security Administration checkpoint. Investigators allege he first attempted to scan a boarding pass at one gate but was unsuccessful. He then moved through the airport before approaching another gate where United Flight 469 was preparing to depart for Los Angeles.

Authorities say Oriyomi waited until airline employees were distracted before proceeding down the jetway and boarding the aircraft. A passenger told investigators the man initially sat next to her before moving around the plane. She later realized that seat was assigned to another passenger.

The aircraft had already begun taxiing away from the gate when flight attendants were notified someone was...