Security becomes monkey business
Here is something to make you wonder about airport security: an air passenger was detained in New York after being caught with an unusual traveling companion — a spider monkey that he tried to hide under his hat, according to various reports.
The New York Times reported that the man boarded a Spirit Airlines flight in Lima, Peru, bound for New York. The flight crew only noticed the stowaway on the second leg of the journey after a plane change in Florida.
Other passengers first noticed the pint-sized primate.
“It was clinging to his ponytail underneath his hat,” airline spokeswoman Alison Russell said.
“How the passenger got through security, I can’t begin to say,” she told the newspaper. The unidentified man was questioned by federal officers, while his furry friend was handed over to New York officials.
The man was detained for further investigation.
Report by David Wilkening
David
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Global tourism exceeds 1.5 billion travelers announces UN-Tourism
Qatar Airways offers reduced timetable to over 60 destinations
WTTC global tourism reached record economic impact of 11 trillion in 2025
Hands In, UATP join forces for airline multi-card payments
Overseas travelers to the United States declined by 2.5% in 2025