ATLANTA- A Texas man has been released from custody after admitting to sneaking aboard a Delta Air Lines (DL) flight at Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) using a stolen child’s boarding pass. The Flight DL1683 was bound for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS).
Wicliff Yves Fleurizard, 27, of Leander, Texas, pleaded guilty to federal charges after his March 2024 attempt to return home to Florida without a valid ticket. He used a photo of a boarding pass belonging to a young passenger to bypass Delta’s gate security and board the plane.
Photo: By MarcelX42 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=127237262Delta Flight Stowaway Released
Fleurizard had tried repeatedly to travel using a buddy pass from a friend employed at Southwest Airlines (WN), a standby privilege that only works when spare seats are available.
After several failed attempts due to full flights, he made a risky decision, sneaking onto a Delta flight at SLC using deceptive tactics.
According to court records, surveillance footage showed Fleurizard loitering near passengers boarding Delta flight DL1683 to Austin, using his phone to secretly photograph boarding passes.
According to PYOK, he eventually snapped a pass belonging to a young girl and entered the queue ahead of her. The image allowed him to pass the gate agents undetected.
Once on board, Fleurizard immediately went into the front lavatory to hide during final boarding. He planned to wait until all passengers were seated and then claim an unassigned seat.
However, the flight was fully booked. After exiting the lavatory and walking through the cabin in search of a vacant seat, he locked himself in a rear lavatory, raising suspicion.
A flight attendant eventually noticed inconsistencies and confronted him. Upon discovering that his name wasn’t on the manifest, the crew alerted the pilots.
The aircraft, already taxiing, was forced to return to the gate, where local police removed Fleurizard from the plane.
Photo: Salt Lake City International AirportLegal Outcome
Fleurizard faced a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for his actions, which prosecutors said posed a significant risk to passenger safety.
However, as part of a plea deal, US District Court Judge David Barlow sentenced him to time served, six months of imprisonment.
Fleurizard was also ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution and will be under three years of supervised release.
“Mr. Fleurizard’s actions were not only disruptive to passengers, it also compromised the safety and security for all on board”
Special Agent Mehtab Syed, FBI Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd echoed this concern, emphasizing the need for constant vigilance and stronger aviation security measures.
Photo: Clément AlloingRise in Stowaway Incidents
Fleurizard’s case is the latest in a disturbing series of stowaway attempts, underlining growing concerns over airport and airline security breaches.
| Feb 2025 | Vienna (VIE) / Hainan Airlines (HU) | Two deceased stowaways were found in the aircraft wheel well from New York. |
| Jan 2025 | Fort Lauderdale (FLL) / JetBlue (B6) | Afghan man evaded checks and boarded a flight to China; discovered mid-air. |
| Dec 2024 | Seattle (SEA) / Delta Air Lines (DL) | Attempted stowaway foiled before Christmas Eve flight to Honolulu. |
| Dec 2024 | Chicago (ORD) – Kahului (OGG) / United (UA) | The body of a deceased stowaway was discovered in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner wheel well. |
| Nov 2024 | New York JFK (JFK) / Delta Air Lines (DL) | Stowaway on Paris-bound flight discovered mid-transatlantic. |
| Aug 2024 | Washington Dulles (IAD) / Delta Air Lines (DL) | Two deceased stowaways were found in the aircraft’s wheel well from New York. |
Security lapses that enable such intrusions are under increasing scrutiny by both government regulators and airlines.
TSA Agent; Photo- Michael BallWIkimedia Commons
Airport Security Measures
The Fleurizard case prompted Delta Air Lines (DL) and the TSA to reassess their protocols. Delta issued a statement affirming cooperation with law enforcement and a commitment to safety, noting that their security infrastructure is sound but requires adherence to standard procedures.
The airline is reviewing gate agent training to ensure rigorous boarding pass checks.
Salt Lake City Police and the FBI emphasized the need for continuous improvement in aviation security.
Chief Redd advocated for regular updates to security measures, while the TSA’s review focuses on integrating advanced technologies to prevent unauthorized boarding.
The incident also raised questions about the risks of buddy passes, which rely on standby availability and can lead to desperate actions when flights are full.
Photo: Delta Air LinesConclusion
Wicliff Yves Fleurizard’s unauthorized boarding of a Delta Air Lines (DL) flight at Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) exposed critical vulnerabilities in aviation security.
His use of a stolen child’s boarding pass and subsequent sentencing to time served underscore the need for robust verification processes.
As airlines and the TSA work to address these gaps, incidents like this serve as a reminder of the ongoing challenge to balance efficiency and safety in air travel.
Featured Image by Clément Alloing | Flickr
Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News
Delta Air Lines Seattle Stowaway Caught Again Traveling Without Ticket
The post Delta Stowaway Passenger Who Steal Child’s Boarding Pass for Flight Released appeared first on Aviation A2Z.
