Man Who Tried to Sneak onto Plane with $50 Bribe Fined 81 Million Won

Evading Airport Security and Boarding Plane Without Authorization
Aircraft Searched... Flight Ultimately Canceled
US Court Orders Compensation for Airline's Damages

A man in the United States who boarded a plane without passing through security screening and caused the flight to be canceled has been fined approximately 81 million won.

A man in his 30s who boarded an American Airlines passenger plane without permission in the United States and caused the flight to be canceled was fined approximately 80 million won. Photo by Pixabay

On July 2 (local time), U.S. business media outlet Business Insider reported that the U.S. Department of Justice announced a man in his 30s, identified as Mr. A, was fined $59,143 (80.81 million won) for sneaking onto an American Airlines passenger plane at Philadelphia International Airport in June last year and causing the flight to be canceled.

At the time, Mr. A approached the exit passage of the airport security screening area, claiming he had left his cell phone in the terminal. Security personnel contacted the police, but the police responded that they could not search for Mr. A's phone.

During this time, Mr. A attempted to enter the airport interior. When security personnel repeatedly stopped him, he placed a $50 (68,000 won) bill on the desk. The security officer contacted the police again, and after several minutes of confrontation, Mr. A eventually entered the airport interior.

While the police were searching the terminal, Mr. A boarded the plane at gate A-20. At that time, the passenger plane was ready for departure. However, after the captain was notified of the unauthorized boarding, the plane returned to the gate, and all passengers were forced to disembark. Mr. A was subsequently arrested at the scene.

Because Mr. A boarded the plane without passing through security screening, the entire aircraft had to be searched, and the flight was ultimately canceled. American Airlines stated that the flight cancellation resulted in damages of $59,143.

The court ordered Mr. A to pay compensation in that amount and sentenced him to one year of probation for evading airport security.