16 January 2024 , 11:22
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A woman caused chaos as she tried to sneak on to a flight after she had been refused entry because of her passport.
Mistura Alade and a girl who cannot be named for legal reasons broke through a security door and emergency exit, setting off two alarms at Gatwick Airport. She then fell over an airport worker on a staircase. The pair then tried to board the wrong aircraft before they were detained by police and security.
Alade, 45, from Birmingham, had been told she and the girl couldn't board their flight to Milan because there wasn't three months left on their passports. Rules for travel to EU countries require passport holders to have at least three months left before expiry to allow them onward travel. But instead of rearranging their flight, Alade and the girl made a frantic attempt to try and get on the plane after leaving the boarding area.
Alade and the girl tried to sneak on the plane after leaving the boarding area (UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)The airport worker fell heavily on a staircase which left him injured and off work for several weeks. Security and police officers arrived swiftly on the scene to arrest Alade and the girl within moments of the alarm being activated. Alade, formerly a supermarket worker, appeared before Birmingham Magistrates' Court and was found guilty of assault by beating and entering a restricted area in breach of Aviation Security Act rules.
She was sentenced to a one-year community order. The penalty also had a requirement to complete 40 hours of unpaid work and 20 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement sessions. Alade was also ordered to pay £200 in compensation to the injured staff member. The second passenger was also found guilty of the same offences. She was sentenced to a Youth Referral Order for four months and was ordered to pay £30 in compensation.
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Detective Sergeant Ian Warncken from Gatwick CID spoke after the case and said Alade had been told she was not able to travel onwards and where she could receive help at the airport. He said: "Alade was told that she would not be able to travel to Milan and was informed of where she could obtain help within the airport. She was removed from the passenger list as a result. But instead of seeking help, she instead attempted to sneak on board the aircraft, and refused to listen to staff members.
"Her reckless and selfish behaviour put herself in danger as well as other air passengers after she entered a restricted area of the airport, at one stage potentially attempting to board the wrong aircraft. She then claimed she did not know what she was doing was wrong, despite setting off two alarms. It is a reminder that it is every passenger's responsibility to ensure that their passport is within date and valid for onward travel."