JetBlue Flight At LAX Searched After Report Of Unauthorized Person Trying To Access Plane

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A JetBlue flight was delayed at Los Angeles International Airport Thursday after an off-duty pilot looking to hitch a ride led to a security scare and a search of the plane.

JetBlue Flight #24 was being prepared for its 6:30 a.m. departure to New York when LAX police received a call regarding an unauthorized person, dressed as an airline pilot, trying to access the aircraft via the passenger boarding bridge at about 6 a.m., according to an LAX statement.

An airport employee fueling the plane mentioned seeing the captain on the jet bridge, but a colleague said the crew wasn't even there yet, Airport police Officer Rob Pedregon said.

As a precaution, the aircraft was towed from Terminal 3 to the remote west end of the airfield, where Airport police and the LAPD  Bomb Squad inspected the plane.

JetBlue officials confirmed no customers were on board, but the baggage was rescreened "out of an abundance of caution." The aircraft was released to the airline around 11:10 a.m., according to LAX spokeswoman Nancy Castles.

Airport police later confirmed the "unauthorized person" was an off-duty pilot in uniform. "We have reason to believe it was an off duty pilot who was jumping a flight to an other location to another base and was in uniform, which is normal," Pedregon said.

Passengers booked on Flight #24 had to wait at least six and a half hours before the situation was all sorted out. Some of the travelers said they didn't mind the wait.

"It's just the cost of security, and if you don't like it, don't travel," one traveler said.

In an unrelated incident, four juveniles were detained, accused of trespassing at the airport.

Airport police received a report at 10:17 a.m. about someone jumping a fence surrounding the LAX San Dunes and LAX Blue Butterfly Preserve, which is across the street from the airfield.

The juveniles were cited and released to their parents.