Sign up for breaking news emails to get real-time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox for free
Sign up for free breaking news emails
A British man has gone missing after being charged with flying from London to New York without a ticket or passport.
Craig Sturt was arrested before boarding a British Airways flight to John F. Kennedy Airport after he slipped through security at Heathrow Airport without producing any documents and again without having his ticket checked. It was done.
The 46-year-old was stopped by gun-wielding police as he arrived at New York airport on Christmas Eve and was sent back to the UK on a chartered flight.
Mr Sturt was arrested on landing on Christmas Day and charged with offenses under the Aviation Security Act.
Sturt is accused of boarding a Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner “without paying for the ticket” and allegedly bypassed screening by walking or “tailgating” other passengers. ing. He reportedly found a seat on a full plane after several passengers missed their connecting flights. Sun.
He admitted the offenses at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court and was due to be sentenced last month. But his failure to appear in court further embarrassed British officials. Police said Sturt was taken to a hospital in Reading for treatment before he fled the hospital, according to reports.
Home Secretary James Cleverley is aware of the incident and demands to know how the “humiliating fiasco” could have happened, sources said. Post.
Thames Valley Police issued an arrest warrant for Mr Sturt after he was reported missing on January 25. “Will you help me find Craig?” it read.
“He is 46 years old, 6 feet tall, slim, and has short dark brown hair. He was last seen wearing a gray jacket, jacket, black jogging pants, and white trainers. I did.”
He was last seen in Reading, but is from Slough and also has links to Heathrow Airport and Tottenham Court Road in London, the appeal says. The post warned people not to approach him and said members of the public should call police if they see him.
Photograph of Craig Sturt, the stowaway charged with traveling from London to New York without documents.
(TVP reading)
The Metropolitan Police Department took over the investigation on January 31st.
“On 24 December 2023, police became aware of a suspected breach of security at Heathrow Airport, following which a man was arrested and later charged with fraud and breaches of the Aviation Security Act,” it said in a statement.
“We continue to work with all our partners to review and strengthen the robust security measures we already have in place, which are constantly being reviewed by our wider security partnership. ”
said Mr Sturt's younger brother Lee Smith, 52. sunday sun he said, “I couldn't believe it.'' [he] “I heard about it,” he said.The police contacted him and told him they were looking for his brother.
“It's outrageous that something like this could happen. If Craig, who has a troubled past, was able to evade security, anyone else, perhaps with nefarious motives, could do the same. It should make your head spin.” Why was this allowed to happen?”
Heathrow Airport said Mr Sturt should have passed through security, but it remains unclear how he was able to avoid document checks before and after.
A Heathrow spokesperson said: “We continue to work with all our partners to review and strengthen the robust security measures already in place. These measures are kept under constant review by our wider security partnership. is being carried out,” he said.
A British Airways spokesperson also issued a statement saying they were “supporting authorities with their investigation”.
