Deplaning held up searching for single passenger
Apr 2, 2023, 10:30 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: Delta
Posts: 277
Deplaning held up searching for single passenger
Emirates flight DXB - BOS yesterday arrived and when the door opened there was an airport worker (did not look like law enforcement / CBP, someone simply wearing a safety vest and with a Logan id) with a printed name sign that he handed the plane staff and told them something. Then there ensued a wait of nearly 15 minutes while the staff looked through their laptops (presumably looking through the passenger manifest) and asked on the PA system for the passenger to identify themselves, before they allowed anybody to deplane. (The passenger was not found...)
What could this have been? If it were law enforcement or CBP at the door I could understand they may be trying to arrest someone wanted for some crime. Also, it seems odd that they had a name, and the passenger with that name was apparently not on the plane - aren't the passenger manifests / APIS supposed to be accurate?? They couldn't possibly be relying on the passenger to simply self-identify themselves or responding to an alias, if they wanted them so badly... Puzzled by the whole incident.
What could this have been? If it were law enforcement or CBP at the door I could understand they may be trying to arrest someone wanted for some crime. Also, it seems odd that they had a name, and the passenger with that name was apparently not on the plane - aren't the passenger manifests / APIS supposed to be accurate?? They couldn't possibly be relying on the passenger to simply self-identify themselves or responding to an alias, if they wanted them so badly... Puzzled by the whole incident.
Apr 2, 2023, 11:38 am
#2
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: IAH
Programs: UA
Posts: 606
Very interesting. Did you get the sense that they went to look for an assigned seat?
But yes, relying on voluntary self-identification would be ridiculous. Once, deplaning at PTY, law enforcement was searching for an individual, and every passenger had to flash their passport to an official on their way out.
But yes, relying on voluntary self-identification would be ridiculous. Once, deplaning at PTY, law enforcement was searching for an individual, and every passenger had to flash their passport to an official on their way out.
Apr 2, 2023, 12:02 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2017
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Apr 4, 2023, 10:44 am
#4
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I have seen this kind of thing done occasionally when some passenger has a mobility assistance request sent over or is to get an accompanied escort or other facilities assistance on arrival and/or for a transit.
Sometimes the passenger manifests aren’t entirely accurate and/or seat assignments get messed up.
Was the name of a sort where many would presume the person was perhaps not fluent in English?
Sometimes I’ve seen passengers get receptions because an urgent or sensitive message is to be delivered to a passenger.
Things can be messy or confusing if someone may have been checked in across multiple flights in an effort to sort of protect the passenger so as to give the passenger the best chance to get to the destination as fast as possible but not necessarily sticking to the earlier itinerary or missing a connection.
Sometimes the passenger manifests aren’t entirely accurate and/or seat assignments get messed up.
Was the name of a sort where many would presume the person was perhaps not fluent in English?
Sometimes I’ve seen passengers get receptions because an urgent or sensitive message is to be delivered to a passenger.
Things can be messy or confusing if someone may have been checked in across multiple flights in an effort to sort of protect the passenger so as to give the passenger the best chance to get to the destination as fast as possible but not necessarily sticking to the earlier itinerary or missing a connection.