Passenger with out passport or ticket flew from Heathrow to New York
A British passenger with out a passport or airplane ticket managed to fly from Heathrow to New York by ‘tailgating’ one other traveller in a ‘main embarrassment’ for UK safety, it emerged final night time.
Craig Sturt, 46, is accused of following one other passenger via safety and passport checkpoints at Heathrow’s Terminal 5 and having fun with free meals and drinks on a British Airways airplane earlier than touchdown within the US.
He is alleged to have been detained by armed officers there, who discovered he had no documentation and was despatched again to the UK on a constitution flight.
Mr Sturt was then hand-delivered to Met Police officers at 8pm on Christmas Day, when he was arrested earlier than he was taken to a hospital in Reading.
However, he allegedly escaped the hospital and has not been seen since, having grow to be the topic of a lacking particular person’s enchantment.
Craig Sturt, 46, (pictured) was the topic of an ‘pressing lacking particular person enchantment’ when he adopted one other passenger via safety and passport checkpoints on December 23, 2023
The incident is alleged to have left the Home Secretary demanding to search out solutions concerning the ‘humiliating fiasco’, The Sun reported.
Such an prevalence was thought to have been unimaginable due to elevated safety and technological advances since 9/11.
After escaping from hospital, a warrant for Mr Sturt’s arrest was issued on January 22, and Thames Valley Police issued a photograph of him on January 30.
The power stated on the time: ‘Urgent lacking particular person enchantment. Please are you able to assist us discover Craig? The 46-year-old is 6ft, slim, with brief darkish brown hair.
‘When he was final seen, he was sporting a gray jacket, a prime, black jogging bottoms and white trainers.
‘Craig was final seen in Reading, however is from Slough and likewise has hyperlinks to Heathrow and the Tottenham Court Road in London. If you see Craig, please don’t method him, as an alternative name 999.’
He has been charged with acquiring providers by deception; being unlawfully airside; boarding an plane with out permission.
He was remanded to seem at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court – but the unemployed 46-year-old has nonetheless not been discovered by police.
He has been noticed taking £200 in money from a machine on Tottenham Court Road in London.
Mr Sturt boarded a British Airways airplane to New York from Heathrow’s Terminal 5. Pictured: A BA airplane takes off from Heathrow Terminal 5 (File picture)
A supply informed The Sun: ‘Heads will roll. It’s staggering this might occur. It would not bear interested by what might need occurred if a terrorist had efficiently boarded a flight undetected.
‘This is a serious embarrassment. Officials within the US are livid and demanding to know the way this might have occurred.’
A Heathrow spokeswoman stated: ‘All individuals who go airside are topic to safety screening, together with the person concerned on this case. We are supporting the authorities with their ongoing investigation.’
The Met Police stated: ‘On December 24, 2023, police had been made conscious of an alleged breach of safety at Heathrow airport and a male was subsequently arrested and later charged with Fraud and Aviation Security Act offences.
‘We proceed to work with all our companions to assessment and improve the already strong safety measures in place that are stored beneath fixed assessment by the broader safety partnership.’
British Airways stated: ‘We are aiding the authorities with their investigation.’
MailOnline has contacted BA and the Metropolitan Police for remark.
The Home Office and the Department for Transport each refused to remark.
