Saudi man arrested in Manila for posing as pilot

[bear11]

- from arabiansupplychain.com;

Saudi man arrested in Manila for posing as pilot
by Elsa Baxter on Jan 13, 2010

A 19-year-old Saudi Arabian man dressed as a pilot was arrested at Manila airport on Tuesday for entering a restricted area, officials said.

Wearing a pilot’s uniform from Saudia Airlines, Hani Abdulelah Bukhari was able to pass through security to spend several hours wandering around a restricted area.

Security staff became suspicious as he approached an immigration line, and asked to see his pilot’s identification.

"He was able to elude our security by misrepresenting himself as a pilot of Saudia," airport general manager Alfonso Cusi, told AFP news agency.

Bukhari told airport officials he was waiting to meet his father, a retired Saudia pilot who arrived later on a flight from the kingdom.

"There was a failure on our part here," Cusi told the news agency. "Our fault here is we were not able to check properly his identification.

"Definitely, there will be changes" in airport security procedures, he said.

The security breach comes just weeks after airports around the world increased security following a failed attempt to blow up a US-bound plane on Christmas Day.

Bukhari is facing charges of misrepresentation and will be deported, Cusi told the Associated Press news agency.

“It’s a mistake ... but not my mistake,” Bukhari told ABS-CBN television. “The guards allowed me to enter.”

The teen told investigators he had enrolled in a school for flight dispatchers, but he is said not to be holding a student visa.

Bukhari arrived in Manila in November, but with his status unknown, investigators are working to find out more about him.

[Deep and fast]

He was probably a pay to fly fo who's cheque bounced!

[carlyle]

What are the chances of the Philippine authorities treating the Saudi in the same manner as the Saudi Authorities would treat a Filipino if he/she were caught doing the same thing in Saudi?

[Xeque]

Leonardo de Caprio (AKA Frank Abagnale Jr) lives again!
Pathetic really. The security world insists on bashing the innocent (pax and crew just going about their normal lives) whilst allowing something as obvious as this to happen.
Like I say - pathetic.

[Rustom]

Fancied a shot at being the next Frank Abagnale Jr perhaps. :ugh:

[Avman]

But reiterates why there is a need for aircrew to go through the full security process at airports, even though , understandably, it is a pain in the derriere for them - as it is for us the pax.

[apaddyinuk]

I wonder if its his dads uniform....I doubt he'll be too popular at the family dinner table!

[kotakota]

AVMAN ,you are correct in that we aviators must go through similar security checks to the passengers , but would it be too much to ask that we might be allowed to retain some of our dignity rather than be humiliated on a regular basis by some jobsworth ?
Is it little surprise that certain passengers also show scant respect to aircrew and then cause certain security incidents onboard ? Am I alone in connecting the two ?

[METO power]

AVMAN and kotakota, I don’t agree with you. We all have been security and background checked that we should have at least the level of an airport police officer. Remember, we have control of the aircraft once we are on board (even if we board naked). When my F/O goes to the toilet it is my airplane and I can do whatever my brain tells me. He has no chance to enter the cockpit if I deny the request.

But it is vital that my identity is verified, make sure I am the one I claim to be.

That’s the only way how you can avoid a security breach by a fake pilot. Luckily I have only 6 years to go in this business. My son is thinking about becoming a pilot and I keep telling him that this is probably the only job in the world where you have to prove every time you go to work that you are not a criminal.
I used to be a respected, trustworthy professional. Now I am considered the prime suspect and all these wannabe security officers would love to hang me.
I’m sick and tired of this B/S.:ugh:

[mr Q]

Passing through "security" without any or adequate ID or any security formalities seems to be a prerogative of the rich and /or well connected at Manila and is seen as an indication of status by even the most lowly government employees and their entourage .....
Makes me nervous just watching the goings and comings there ....

[mutt]

The guy was wearing a STEWARDS uniform not a pilots uniform! Plus if you see his picture, you would question how they thought he was a real pilot.....

Mutt

[GuppyEng.com]

The Phillipine Security is a bit hit and miss! One day whilst not in uniform, just going to get something from the aircraft my AUS ASIC was no good but my driving license OK:confused: