A passenger without a ticket, a stowaway, was found on board a Delta Air Lines flight as it was about to fly from Seattle to Honolulu on Christmas Eve.

Delta Flight 487, an Airbus A321neo aircraft scheduled to depart Seattle-Tacoma International Airport for Honolulu on Dec. 24, was stopped while the plane was taxiing on a runway when the unticketed passenger, who was not identified, was discovered, according to the airline.

The aircraft returned to the gate, where the passenger was ultimately arrested.

“As there are no matters more important than safety and security, Delta people followed procedures to have an unticketed passenger removed from the flight and then apprehended,” the airline said in a statement. “We apologize to our customers for the delay in their travels and thank them for their patience and cooperation.”

Travel news: How did a body end up in the wheel well of United Airlines plane? Here’s what we know so far

Passenger boarded flight without a ticket

The Port of Seattle Police Department told USA TODAY that the passenger entered the airport the day before boarding the flight, on the evening of Dec. 23.

According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the unidentified passenger passed through standard screening procedures and did not possess any prohibited items, but “bypassed the identity verification and boarding status stations,” and was able to board the aircraft without a boarding pass.

The TSA said that the incident was still under investigation.

After passing through TSA security, officials with the Port of Seattle said that the passenger had “also gained access to the loading bridge without a scanned ticket at the gate.”

Delta also said in a statement that “the unticketed passenger boarded the flight at the gate without presenting a boarding pass.”

Port of Seattle police said that once the aircraft returned to the gate, the unticketed passenger managed to exit the plane, but was later found in an airport terminal restroom.

The unticketed passenger was arrested for criminal trespass and booked into the South Correctional Entity jail in Des Moines, Washington, according to police.

Delta said that the flight was ultimately delayed for 2 hours and 15 minutes while TSA personnel conducted additional security checks. Port of Seattle police also swept the aircraft and terminal with K9 dogs.

Another stowaway caught on a Delta flight last month

The incident comes a month after a woman was found on board a Delta Air Lines flight from New York to Paris without a ticket.

Cour documents from the arraignment of Svetlana Dali show that she managed to get through TSA security screening at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport on Nov. 26 by “entering through a special lane for airline employees masked by a large Air Europa flight crew.”

Dali was then able to board a Delta flight without presenting a boarding pass before she was eventually discovered after the plane had taken off.

On Dec. 16, Dali was arrested in Buffalo, New York on a bus bound for Canada, having cut off her ankle monitor.

Max Hauptman is a Trending Reporter for USA TODAY. He can be reached at MHauptman@gannett.com.

CNN
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The boo birds were loud and clear Thursday night at Soldier Field following the latest Chicago Bears loss.

On a chilly, rainy night in Illinois – the Bears lost to the Seattle Seahawks in a 6-3 defensive struggle between both squads on Thursday Night Football.

Needing a field goal to at least force overtime, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams drove the Chicago offense all the way to the Seattle 40-yard line.

With a field goal attempt out of reach on fourth down, it was up to Williams to convert to keep the Bears alive but things went awry. The 23-year-old No. 1 overall pick was hit as he threw the ball and was intercepted by Seattle cornerback Tariq Woolen, securing the win for the Seahawks.

It was Williams’ first interception in 354 passes, which had been the longest streak by a rookie in NFL history.

All three field goals in the game came in the first half.

Williams finished with 122 yards and the interception, while Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith threw 17-of-23 for 160 yards.

Offense was almost non-existent, but both defenses held firm to keep the game within arm’s reach.

The Seahawks defense sacked Williams seven times to help keep them alive in the NFC playoff picture; NFL.com currently has Seattle with a 15% chance to make the postseason.

In a sign that perhaps Chicago needs to improve its offensive line, Williams has now been sacked 67 times this season. Former Houston Texans quarterback David Carr holds the NFL record for most times sacked with 76 back in 2002.

In the midst of Chicago fans chanting “sell the team,” Seattle signal-caller Smith told the Amazon Prime broadcast that the team “doesn’t care” how they get wins.

“Defense played tremendous,” Smith said. “At this point, we don’t care how we get wins. We just want to win games. I don’t care if it was 5-4. We got the dub. It was a hard fought game. Our defense was lights out.”

Seattle improves to 9-7 on the season and can clinch the NFC West with a bit of help. If the Los Angeles Rams lose on Saturday against the Arizona Cardinals and the Seahawks beat LA to close out the regular season, Seattle will win the division and book a ticket to the postseason.

The Bears have now lost 10 straight after starting the season 4-2 and fall to 0-4 under interim head coach Thomas Brown.

Chicago travels to Green Bay to take on the Packers to round out the regular season.

SEATTLE, Wash. – A judge has found Jahmed Haynes, the man accused of murdering beloved 80-year-old dog walker Ruth Dalton in Madison Valley last August, competent to stand trial. The court’s decision came after months of debate surrounding his mental health and whether he could adequately face the charges against him.

Dalton’s family expressed relief at the court’s ruling, with her granddaughter Melanie Roberts stating, “I’m really relieved that finally through the smoke, the truth was seen, and that he is competent.”

According to court documents, Haynes allegedly carjacked Dalton while she was walking dogs in the neighborhood. He is accused of dragging her with her own car before running her over. Haynes is also charged with animal cruelty for the violent killing of Dalton’s dog, Chico.

Prosecutors presented a Department of Social and Health Services report dated December 24, 2024, which deemed Haynes competent.  

“We have a DSHS report which opines he is competent to proceed, so we’re asking your honor to find him competent today,” argued Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Alexandra Logan.

Judge David Keenan ruled Haynes competent as he was present in court in a wheelchair, handcuffed and shackled. However, FOX 13 and other news outlets were not allowed to film his face, as his defense argued the chance to a fair trial, and potential contamination of the jury should his likeness be recorded.

“I do find that identity is an issue in this case,” Keenan said. 

No Bail Hold: Extensive Criminal History

Thursday’s competency hearing was just the beginning, as the defense pleaded not guilty and requested Haynes’ bail be set at $50,000. The initial case was set for a ‘no bail’ hold.

Prosecutors argued Haynes’ criminal record includes six felony convictions dating back to 1983, including vehicular homicide and robbery in 1999. Prosecutors also detailed incidents where Haynes assaulted corrections officers at Monroe State Penitentiary in 2005 while serving a prison sentence, it resulted in a 108-month consecutive sentence. These convictions and charges would make this Haynes’ third strike under Washington state’s persistent offender statute, potentially resulting in a life sentence if convicted.

Deputy Prosecutor Brent Kling argued against reducing bail, saying, “His behavior in this case, coupled with his history, coupled with the charges that he is facing now, demonstrate that he is capable of committing incredible acts of violence and that he has a propensity for violence that unquestionably shows that he is a danger to the community.”

“I’m denying bail in this matter given the incredibly violent allegations here, they’re very serious along with the defendant’s previous convictions,” Keenan said.

Family’s Plea for Justice

Melanie Roberts delivered an emotional plea to the court, urging the judge to maintain the no-bail hold. 

“I plead with the court to not allow him to prey on us acting victims in the real world. Please continue no-bail hold so my family and our community can rest easier and keep what little peace we have felt in the past four months,” Roberts said.

A small victory for Dalton’s loved ones.

“I’m confident he will be found to be guilty eventually,” Roberts said. “He doesn’t deserve to be on the street. We don’t deserve for him to be on the street to be a menace to the rest of us.  He’s not going to be a danger to anyone else’s grandmother or mother, brother, sister, dog, everybody’s safe from him, and it’s huge victory for me and my family and our community and everybody.”

Reflecting on the pain her family has endured, Roberts shared a poignant memory of her grandmother, recounting a recent moment where she saw a double rainbow and felt her grandmother’s presence. 

“This is our rain right now. And my rainbow might not be as bright as it used to be, but we’ll still get our rainbow,” Roberts said.

The court’s ruling marks the first significant step toward justice for Dalton’s family.

Dalton’s family vowed to attend every hearing to honor her memory. “If he’s here, I’m here,” Roberts said. “I look forward to justice being all the way served in this matter.”

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