Airline Security Risks: Teenage Stowaway Found on El Al Flight

Earlier this week, a 13-year-old stowaway was discovered on an EL AL flight preparing to depart from Tel Aviv, Israel to New York, USA. According to local media, the teenager managed to bypass the strict security procedures at Tel Aviv Airport before sneaking onto the flight.

The stowaway was found by the cabin crew before the flight took off, preventing the aircraft from having an extra passenger. This incident highlights the potential vulnerabilities in even the most strict and effective airport security systems.

Discovered Before Takeoff

El Al operates three flights a day from Tel Aviv to New York’s JFK Airport, primarily using Boeing 787s with some 777s occasionally. The flight time is approximately 12 hours. According to Cirium, an aviation analytics company, the incident occurred on Tuesday night on one of these flights.

The 13-year-old boy managed to evade security and passport control and board the aircraft, but was discovered sitting in a crew seat before takeoff. El Al stated, “The flight crew saw a boy who boarded the plane without a ticket or passport after passing all security and border control stages at Ben Gurion. The boy was safely removed from the plane.

Diving into the Details

While stowaway incidents are not uncommon, this story is particularly concerning due to the strict security measures at Tel Aviv Airport. Y Net Global reports that the boy was able to bypass all security and border procedures, despite additional vetting for US-bound flights.

Israeli officials have launched an investigation into this “multi-agency failure. ” According to Air Guide, the boy blended in with adults at each checkpoint, making it airside and even spending time in the duty-free area before somehow getting onto the US-bound aircraft. His movement between empty seats before takeoff raised concern and he was spotted and removed. He has since been returned to his mother amidst a dispute between his parents.

El Al’s Flights from Tel Aviv to New York (Per Cirium)

Flight Number

Departure

Arrival

LY3

00:05

04:55

LY1

01:00

05:50

LY7

10:15

15:05

Tel Aviv’s Strict Security Protocols

Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv is known for its strict security protocols. Though controversial, they have been effective, with no terror-related casualties in 45 years. Air Guide reports that the procedures begin at check-in, where passengers are asked initial questions before going through security and having their documents and bags checked.

Documents and biometrics are checked at passport control, and passengers must show their documents and tickets when boarding the plane. Despite the success of these procedures, they have faced criticism for their use of human factors. According to CNN, critics accuse Israel of racial profiling, particularly targeting Arabs and Palestinians. However, authorities defend it as a risk-based approach rather than profiling.