A 66-year-old Illinois woman, who has been arrested for repeatedly trying to sneak past airport security or for stowing away on flights, has done it again.
On Sunday, Jan. 14, Marilyn Hartman slipped past a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agent to enter O’Hare Terminal Three, snuck into the International terminal, somehow got past a British Airways gate agent, and then got past the entire flight crew to get onto the airplane.
Once aboard, Hartman hid in the bathroom until the flight was airborne. She then took an empty seat and enjoyed the ride.
Once she got to London’s Heathrow Airport, the flaw in her plan exposed her: she didn’t have a passport. Heathrow officials sent her right back to O’Hare.
She arrived back in Chicago on Thursday, Jan. 18, and was promptly arrested—again.
Hartman was charged with one misdemeanor count of criminal trespass and one felony count of theft greater than $500, Chicago police said in a news release.
TSA is investigating how Hartman managed to get through so many layers of security.
“This matter is subject to an ongoing investigation and TSA is working closely with our law enforcement and airline partners in that effort,” TSA said in a statement.
“During the initial investigation it was determined that the passenger was screened at the security checkpoint before boarding a flight. Upon learning of the incident, TSA and its aviation partners took immediate action to review security practices throughout the airport.”
According to the Chicago Tribune, Hartman has been arrested several times and claims that she “may have” snuck onto planes on eight different occasions.
Hartman’s current residence of record is a senior living neighborhood, Lakefront Residences of Grayslake, Illinois. In 2015, she reportedly spent some time in a mental health facility in Chicago.
