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Ben Gurion Tightens Checks After Repeat Stowaway Attempt

The authority now checks boarding passes at the start of screening in response to recent unauthorized passenger cases.

Overview

  • A 13-year-old who previously slipped onto an El Al flight to New York was spotted in a non-passenger area at Ben Gurion and stopped before security.
  • A shift deputy commander identified the boy after noticing suspicious behavior and confirmed his role in the October incident.
  • The Israel Airports Authority said boarding passes will be verified earlier in the process rather than only near the gate.
  • The change follows a case this week in which an 18-year-old boarded an Austrian Airlines flight to Vienna without a ticket and was returned after landing.
  • A preliminary review found that the Vienna passenger passed security screening but did not complete border control, with cross-agency inquiries still underway.