Unusual Incident at LAX: Man Charged with Stowing Passengers on Flight from Copenhagen
A man, suspected to be Russian, is reportedly facing charges for stowing people on a flight from Copenhagen to LAX.
According to court documents, Sergej Wladimirowitsch Otschigawa made false and misleading statements about his journey to the United States at a US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) checkpoint at LAX. It's alleged that he claimed to have left his passport at the airport during his initial conversation with CBP agents. However, the CBP agents were unable to find his name on the flight manifest or any international inbound flight manifest. Furthermore, the man was allegedly found without a US visa for entry.
Otschigawa, during his court proceedings on December 5, reportedly pleaded not guilty. He is currently being held at the MCD Federal Detention Center in Los Angeles. A trial date is scheduled for December 26. Despite multiple attempts, CNN has yet to receive a response from Otschigawa's federal defense attorney.
The news of Otschigawa's arrest was first reported by the technology news agency 404 Media.
Details of the Incident
Upon searching Otschigawa's belongings, CBP agents discovered a Russian identity document, an Israeli identity document, and a partial photo of a passport on Otschigawa's iPhone. The complaint stated that while personal data was found, a passport photo was not present.
According to the complaint, CBP agents attempted to verify some of the personal information on the passport photos, but were unable to find any information in their systems.
US Attorney's Office spokesperson Thom Mrozek told CNN, "We believe he is a Russian citizen," before adding, "We cannot confirm that he is a Russian citizen. He may have some Israeli identity."
The SAS flight crew claimed that they had often observed Otschigawa in the aircraft due to his frequent seat changes and insistence on ordering two meals during each meal service, and once even trying to consume crew food (chocolate).
The complaint alleges that the flight crew did not recall seeing Otschigawa's boarding card, yet remembered that he was sitting in a seat that should have been empty. The crew further claimed that they counted passengers by zones to ensure the aircraft remained balanced during takeoff and landing, but did not conduct a full headcount.
SAS spokesperson Alexandra Lindgren Kaoukji stated, "We can confirm that a person without a ticket and passport boarded a SAS flight. The matter is being handled by relevant authorities in both the United States and Denmark. We cannot provide any further comment."
Interrogation with FBI
During an FBI interview on November 5 with a Russian-speaking CBP agent, Otschigawa reportedly claimed to have a doctoral degree in economics and marketing and had worked as an economist in Russia 'a long time ago.' He also mentioned that he had not slept for three years. He expressed confusion about the situation, unsure if he had a ticket, how he boarded the aircraft, or why he was in Copenhagen.
Focusing on the Unusual
Authorities are focusing on potential spy activity concerns but believe that psychological issues may also have played a role in the unusual incident.
Concerns remain high regarding how individuals can enter the US without proper documentation.
The Copenhagen airport confirmed to CNN that a man without a ticket or passport boarded a flight, using surveillance footage for evidence. The airport takes such incidents seriously and is reviewing its security protocols.
