AN autistic teenager was able to get through airport security in the US “using a drinks coupon” despite having no boarding pass or ID.
Fifteen-year-old Sade Subbs was reported missing in Apopka in Florida only to be found hours later trying to board a flight to Orlando.
The teen found the drinks coupon on the floor, according to Fox35.
It is believed that the young girl took a number of buses from her home in Apopka to Orlando International Airport.
She then used a Southwest Airlines coupon to get through security, despite having no ID or passport.
Her dad, Gerald, added that she had “no boarding pass at all”.
It was only when a Southwest Airlines employee caught her walking near gate 128 that the coupon was scanned, only to find it had been used on a flight earlier that day.
The police were then called where she was returned to her family.
An investigation has been launched in regard to how she made her way through security.
Sade later told authorities that she just “wanted to fly on a plane” to “go to Asia to see the Chinese blossoms or something”.
A Transportation Security Administration (TSA) spokesperson refutes claims that she didn’t have a boarding pass, and claim she was using someone else’s and simply “utilised the coupon”.
They explained to Sun Online Travel: “Under the age of 18, passengers are not required to present an ID. She was screened and therefore presented no threat to the aviation system.”
They added: “This is an example where the many layers of security worked.
“Although she presented someone else’s boarding pass, she was screened and the TSA screening procedures did assure she posed no threat to aviation.
“And the airline – another layer of security which screens passengers at the door to the plane – prevented the individual from gaining access to the plane. And the police reunited her with her family.”
Domestic fliers in the US do not need any ID if they are under 18 to get past security.
Minors between the ages of 15 and 17 are able to travel by themselves.
In the UK, children may not need to show their ID if they are flying domestically and are under 16.
EasyJet explain: “Children under the age of 16 do not need to show ID on domestic flights.”
British Airways and Ryanair have the same rules, although some state the child must be travelling with an adult.
However, all passengers must have a passport if flying internationally.
Last year, a woman was able to get onto a Delta flight with no ticket or ID, and was only stopped by another passenger whose seat she was sitting in.
A man faced a £12k fine after buying a plane ticket so he could go through the airport to say goodbye to his wife.
Even if you have a boarding pass, you might not get on your flight if the phrase GTE is on it.
