Serial stowaway gets decades long airline ban
A serial stowaway has been given an extended airline ban of 30 years.
The unnamed 40 year-old male had an existing flight ban increased to 30 years with KLM and its subsidiary Transavia.
It follows multiple gate jumping incidents in recent years.
The man was caught without a valid ticket after boarding a flight in December 2025.
This was when he was already imposed a ban from a previous incident in late 2020, involving a physical altercation with a staff member.
Then in September 2025, he was placed on the ‘no fly list’ for five more years after attempting to board another KLM flight bound for the Caribbean.
The latest extension takes the flight ban to 2055.
“At KLM, we welcome all passengers. At the same time, we expect everyone to treat our colleagues and fellow travellers with respect,” the airline said.
“Safety and wellbeing are our highest priorities, and we take any form of misconduct very seriously.”
In the latest incident, the Dutch Public Prosecution Service issued a statement at the time: “The suspect’s behavior was observed by security, and was removed from the plane. The suspect had previously attempted unsuccessfully to board another aircraft in this manner.”
He was also fined €750.
Although rare, there have been similar incidents in recent years of people attempting to – and in some cases successfully – boarding flights without valid tickets.
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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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