Last Tuesday, a Pennsylvania man was sentenced to one year probation and ordered to pay $59,143 in restitution after pleading guilty to violating airport security. The charges stem from an incident at Philadelphia International Airport last June, which resulted in a severe security breach and the cancellation of an American Airlines flight.
According to statements made in court, on June 26, 2024, at around 12:12 a.m., Beaulieu approached the Terminal C exit lane, which is intended to prevent unlawful entry into the airport’s “sterile area”—the “terminals beyond the TSA security checkpoint. He told security guard J.M. that he had forgotten his phone inside the airport and needed to retrieve it.
Despite J.M.’s repeated warnings and calls to police dispatch alerting her that cops were unable to locate his phone, Beaulieu persisted in his attempts to enter. He even reportedly left $50on J.M.’s desk, requesting admission. J.M. declined the money and told him he couldn’t enter.
After a brief debate, Beaulieu stepped by J.M. and into the sterile area. J.M. promptly reported the security violation and gave a description of Beaulieu. Airport security staff, who were monitoring surveillance cameras, soon identified Beaulieu as boarding a jet at Gate A-20.
When Philadelphia police arrived at the gate, they discovered the plane doors had been closed and the aircraft was preparing to depart. The captain received information about an unscreened passenger on board, which prompted the plane to return to the gate. All passengers were eventually removed, and Beaulieu was apprehended and imprisoned.
As a result of an unscreened person boarding, the entire plane was subjected to a comprehensive check, forcing the flight to be cancelled. American Airlines claimed a cost of $59,143 for the cancellation, which Beaulieu is now compelled to pay in compensation.
Beaulieu was accused on information in January of this year and pled guilty in February. United States Attorney David Metcalf announced the sentence, which was imposed by United States Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Hey.