Passenger Boards Paris-Bound Flight with Cancelled Ticket, Forces Full Evacuation
A man who managed to board an Air France flight from Arizona to Paris without a valid boarding pass is now facing serious federal charges after his actions forced the complete evacuation of the aircraft. The incident, which unfolded at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, has raised significant questions about airport security protocols and passenger screening procedures.
Security Breach and Boarding Despite Cancellation
According to an FBI affidavit, Qais Ahmad Tillawi purchased a ticket for Air France Flight 069 to Paris on January 25th at approximately 2pm. However, his boarding pass was cancelled later that same day due to an "unauthorized credit card" being used for the purchase. Despite this cancellation, Tillawi proceeded to Phoenix Sky Harbor, where he abandoned his rental car and discarded two jackets in a terminal trash can before clearing Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening by 3pm.
At the departure gate, his digital boarding pass triggered an alert, but he persisted. An Air France agent requested his passport, which Tillawi refused to surrender properly, instead holding it inches from her face before she eventually gave a thumbs-up gesture. The agent later admitted she had only checked one passenger list and failed to see his name, yet still permitted him to proceed down the jet bridge and board the aircraft.
Suspicious Behaviour Onboard and Forced Evacuation
Once onboard the Paris-bound flight, crew members observed Tillawi pacing two complete laps in the economy cabin instead of taking his assigned seat. When confronted, he remained silent and presented a digital boarding pass for seat 44D. A subsequent check revealed he was not listed on the flight manifest at all.
When the captain ordered him to disembark, Tillawi refused, typing "Send the USA marshal" on his phone. This standoff compelled the captain to order the evacuation of the entire aircraft so that police could board and remove him. Tillawi only surrendered once the cabin was completely empty.
Questioning Reveals Complex Background
During subsequent questioning by investigators, Tillawi acknowledged his Miranda rights but insisted on typing all his answers for what he described as "personal reasons." He identified himself as a "citizen of the world" and a self-employed consultant with "access to financial services," claiming he lived exclusively in hotels.
When asked about his unusual behaviour on the plane, his explanations shifted. He initially claimed he simply preferred to stand while travelling, but later typed that his assigned seat felt "suspicious and wrong," though he refused to elaborate. He justified his refusal to cooperate with flight crew by asserting they lacked "official identification" and told investigators he felt his life was in danger, stating he would only comply with US Marshals.
Multiple Documents and Concerning History Uncovered
A search of Tillawi's belongings revealed a substantial collection of documents, including:
- 20 different bank cards
- Multiple driver's licenses from Arizona and California
- Both US and Jordanian passports
- A Jordanian military service book
- Several fake employee badges for the US Department of Veterans Affairs and companies including IBM and Deloitte
- Over $1,000 in cash
His brother, speaking to investigators from Jordan, provided additional context. He revealed that Tillawi had attended Arizona State University and was fluent in English, but had been fired from his job in mid-2024. The brother disclosed a history of drug use and a diagnosis of psychosis, noting that in 2024 Tillawi had been detained at Dubai airport for suspicious behaviour and briefly committed to a mental health facility. Since that time, he had been unemployed, living in hotels while travelling between the US and the Middle East, with minimal contact with his family.
Federal Charges Filed
Qais Ahmad Tillawi now faces federal charges including interference with flight crew members, which constitutes a felony, and entering a secure airport area in violation of security requirements, classified as a misdemeanor. The incident has prompted scrutiny of both airline and airport security procedures, with questions remaining about how multiple layers of security were circumvented. Air France has been approached for comment regarding the breach in their boarding protocols.
