How Abdulrahman Oriyomi Bypassed US Airport Security and Board a Flight Without Ticket

A major security scare at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, occurred on May 18 when Abdulrahman Oluwatumike Oriyomi allegedly bypassed boarding procedures and boarded a departing United Airlines flight, forcing authorities to halt the plane and launch a full security response.

According to court records, Oriyomi arrived early that morning at Terminal C. He delayed at the TSA checkpoint by staring at his phone, had issues with his boarding pass, was escorted to another booth for a photo, and was allowed through security.

He then wandered the airport, approached gate C35 to speak with United staff, and tried boarding a flight to Los Angeles at gate E16 around 7:15 a.m. He failed twice to scan a boarding pass, argued with an employee, and was turned away around 7:10 a.m.

About an hour later, he arrived at gate D4, paced awkwardly while watching boarding, and around 9 a.m. joined the line for United Flight 469 to Los Angeles. While gate agents were distracted, he pretended to show a boarding pass, walked past them, and boarded the jetway.

A female passenger reported he sat next to her but seemed unsure of the seat. He used the restroom, returned to find his seat taken, used another bathroom, and hid in a rear bathroom as the plane began taxiing.
Flight attendants confronted him; he gave the name “Mr. Lopez” and asked to sit in the jump seat. With the flight full and no “Mr. Lopez” on the manifest, the plane returned to the gate.

Houston Police, Explosive Detection K9, FBI, Houston Airport Systems, and TSA responded. All passengers deplaned while the aircraft was swept for explosives. The incident delayed the flight by about three hours.

Oriyomi provided his real name and showed a United confirmation number and boarding pass. United confirmed he had a reservation that was canceled for non-payment. Investigators believe the boarding pass was fake, missing key details with a forged QR code.

Oriyomi received a trespass warning, then began recording officers and causing a scene before leaving the airport. He has no criminal history in Harris County and now faces a felony charge.