A woman without a plane ticket managed to board a Xiamen Airlines flight at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on 28 August, causing a significant security breach and a four-hour delay. The incident was witnessed by a travel blogger named Zhu, who shared the story on Xiaohongshu. The woman was discovered when she couldn’t provide a seat number to the flight attendant.
Background
The incident has raised serious concerns about airport security protocols. Zhu, the travel blogger who witnessed the event, described seeing the woman pacing in the cabin before being questioned by the flight crew. The woman’s inability to produce a ticket or seat number led to the discovery that she lacked the necessary travel documents.
Woman boarded plane
The security lapse allowed the ticketless passenger to board the Xiamen Airlines plane, resulting in a significant delay. Zhu noted that the woman appeared confused and was walking up and down the aisle. When asked for her seat number, she admitted she did not have one, prompting immediate action from the flight crew.
Passengers made to disembark
Following the discovery, all passengers were required to disembark with their belongings for thorough checks. The woman was taken away by airport staff and police after attempting to reboard the plane. Passengers had to undergo additional passport and ticket checks before reboarding, leading to a four-hour delay before the flight finally landed in Xiamen.
Responses
Commenters speculated that the woman might have been in the departure area after arriving on an earlier flight and failed to exit through immigration. However, many highlighted that such a security breach should not have occurred. Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) has announced an investigation into the incident, while the airline has not commented.
Security concerns
The incident has sparked a debate about the effectiveness of airport security measures. Many are questioning how the woman managed to bypass multiple security checks. This event underscores the need for stringent security protocols to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The investigation by MAHB will likely focus on identifying the lapses and implementing measures to enhance security at KLIA.
