Masked Man Nabbed on Flight to BC from Hong Kong

[redforever]

Pretty weird story. Apparently he used his Aeroplan Card as ID at the Hong Kong end?

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-col...a.html?ref=rss

[algernon]

Probably planning to use services his taxes didn't pay for.

[redforever]

He has already claimed refugee status. CNN of course is highlighting this story, just trying to prove how bad Canadian security is.

And the people commenting at the site are saying he should be allowed to stay in Canada, that he is very talented, and Canada could use that kind of talent!

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by redforever

He has already claimed refugee status. CNN of course is highlighting this story, just trying to prove how bad Canadian security is.

And the people commenting at the site are saying he should be allowed to stay in Canada, that he is very talented, and Canada could use that kind of talent!

That's because it is cbc.

[Flames89]

He obviously wasnt trying to sneak into our country, but sneak out of his. Gives credence to his refugee claim.

[HeartsOfFire]

I must admit slight disappointment that he was not wearing a Guy Fawkes mask.

[Cowperson]

How on earth does anyone get anywhere near an internationally destined airplane these days without showing a passport at least once and probably three or four times?

Just off the top of my head . . . . .once at the point where you check bags to an airline worker (passport, get your boarding pass there), once to go through passport control (passport and boarding pass) for international destinations, once through security (passport and boarding pass) and once to get on the plane (passport and boarding pass).

Maybe you get on the plane with an Aeroplan card and a boarding pass but the other points, I don't think so.

A lot of the failure lies with the Hong Kong authorities in all probability, not Air Canada.

Cowperson

[Byrns]

Originally Posted by redforever

He has already claimed refugee status. CNN of course is highlighting this story, just trying to prove how bad Canadian security is.

And the people commenting at the site are saying he should be allowed to stay in Canada, that he is very talented, and Canada could use that kind of talent!

CNN isn't pointing the finger at Canada at all.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americ...ger/index.html

[Ramsayfarian]

That's a fairly realistic looking mask.

[FlameOn]

It's usually the security screening guys and airline staff that do the final checks with this. You shouldn't be able to get through security without a passport on an international flight?

That mask is nuts and quite real looking. There don't seem to be any eye holes though. I wonder why he's making a refugee claim? Someone must want him dead if he goes to these lengths.

[mykalberta]

I am not shocked about the mask, I am shocked the only ID you apparently need to board an international flight is an Aeroplan card.'

Whoever let him through with just that as ID needs to be fired. I realize old people can be a pain to deal with but if they dont have the right ID boot their wrinkly a$$es off.

[shermanator]

Are you sure that isn't Johnny Knoxville?

[4X4]

Idiot should have left his mask on until he got to Canada. Obviously the man has never watched Scooby Doo.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Byrns

CNN isn't pointing the finger at Canada at all.

I don't know how anyone could even think of pointing fingers at Canada for this. Once the plane touched Canadian soil, he was taken into custody.

All of the Air Canada employees he encountered in Hong Kong were likely Chinese until the flight attendants on board, and by that point, no one checks your ID.

Plenty of questions have to be answered, but they all need to come from the other side of the Pacific.

[gizzo]

not getting in any where looking like that lol

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

How on earth does anyone get anywhere near an internationally destined airplane these days without showing a passport at least once and probably three or four times?

Just off the top of my head . . . . .once at the point where you check bags to an airline worker (passport, get your boarding pass there), once to go through passport control (passport and boarding pass) for international destinations, once through security (passport and boarding pass) and once to get on the plane (passport and boarding pass).

Maybe you get on the plane with an Aeroplan card and a boarding pass but the other points, I don't think so.

A lot of the failure lies with the Hong Kong authorities in all probability, not Air Canada.

Cowperson

A lot of airports outside of North America are a lot more loosy goosy then you think. I've been to HK airport a few times, the place is a jungle and the airport staff are just trying to get you through the line as quickly as possible (versus in NA, they go through a long, slow and careful process).

Going through a few Europe trips, I've accidentally left swiss army knives in my backpack and they went through.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by Byrns

CNN isn't pointing the finger at Canada at all.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americ...ger/index.html

They were when the story first aired last night.

[Winsor_Pilates]

If he had landed and got out in Richmond, no one would ever find him.

[Mad Mel]

Originally Posted by getbak

I don't know how anyone could even think of pointing fingers at Canada for this. Once the plane touched Canadian soil, he was taken into custody.

All of the Air Canada employees he encountered in Hong Kong were likely Chinese until the flight attendants on board, and by that point, no one checks your ID.

Plenty of questions have to be answered, but they all need to come from the other side of the Pacific.

It's the flight attendants checking ID as the passengers board at the gate.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

If he had landed and got out in Richmond, no one would ever find him.

Wouldn't he still have to go through the Canada Border Services Agency officers at the Vancouver airport? I have the feeling they might not allow him into the country with just an aeroplan card.