Fugitive on Istanbul-New York flight caught after being unable to find vacant seat

ISTANBUL - Doğan News Agency

The fugitive managed to sneak into the departure lounge as he was just about to pass through customs at Istanbul's Atatürk Airport. DHA photo

A fugitive in Turkey was caught in a jam-packed flight from Istanbul to New York, trying to illegally enter the United States, Doğan News Agency reported July 23.

The peculiar incident took place on July 4 when a man, only identified as A. S. Kayın, disembarked at the international terminal arrival section of Istanbul's Atatürk Airport, after having previously been deported back to Turkey from Israel due to the expiration of his visa.

Kayın was about to pass through customs when he took advantage of the lack of attention of a worker to enter the employees' restricted zone and managed to sneak into the departure lounge.

He then passed to boarding gate number 226, where a Delta Air Lines flight from Istanbul to New York was just about to take off. He managed to make it past the security officials at the gate and successfully got onto the plane.

However, after having succeeded in the most difficult parts, Kayın could not find a vacant seat on the plane. After the plane left the boarding gate, the cabin crew noticed him standing and deduced that he did not have a ticket. The plane then returned to the gate, where the crew delivered Kayın to the police.

The administration of the airport admitted that the private security personnel in the boarding area had let Kayın board the plane despite not having passport and boarding ticket. "This incident has highlighted a security vulnerability," the airport administration said in a statement, adding that an investigation had been opened into the private security staff member and other airport employees.