Man lived inside Chicago Airport secure area for three months
Airport security is under scrutiny at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport after a man spent three months living there in restricted areas.
LA resident Aditya Singh, 36 was charged with felony criminal trespass to a restricted area and misdemeanor theft of an airport ID badge.
Singh said he found the badge and decided to stay at the airport as he was too afraid to fly home to California due to Covid-19.
Singh was using the ID badge of an airport operations manager who reported it lost back in October.
He told prosecutors he lived off free handouts of food from other passengers.
Judge Susana Ortiz expressed astonishment at the allegations.
"The court finds these facts and circumstances quite shocking for the alleged period of time that this occurred,"’ she said.
Singh was eventually caught after being approached by two United Airlines employees who called police.
Singh, who has a degree in hospitality management but is currently unemployed, has no prior criminal record.
"While this incident remains under investigation, we have been able to determine that this gentleman did not pose a security risk to the airport or to the traveling public," the Chicago Department of Aviation said in a statement.
Written by Ray Montgomery, US Editor
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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