Families traveling at Gatwick Airport were given a terrifying experience last Wednesday morning when a man who did not have a ticket somehow evaded security and attempted to board a TUI flight for Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
The male, William Jonzi, 24, trailed behind another commuter through the airport's automatic security doors unnoticed. He managed to pass the security screening and proceeded to the departure gate, where the aircraft was set to depart.
As Jonzi attempted to board the plane, he began screaming and behaving erratically. One of the passengers, Jimmy McBride, witnessed what was occurring and promptly subdued Jonzi to the ground, taking action to support other travelers, including numerous children and families.
One of the passengers, Dayna White, said she feared because it was her first vacation with her child, and the events made her feel vulnerable.
Airport police arrived and arrested Jonzi, delaying the flight by over two hours. The plane eventually departed at 8:20 am, rather than the planned 6:00 am.
Jonzi subsequently faced court, where he pleaded guilty to trespassing in the secure section of the airport without authorization. He was fined £120 and told to pay £89 in costs.
This has been brought into question regarding airport security, as it is not the first case of someone gaining access to a flight without a ticket at a UK airport.
Gatwick Airport refused to comment on the incident.