MANILA, Philippines - Authorities at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) arrested a 19-year-old student pilot who was undetected for seven and a half hours as he went through the airport’s departure and arrival areas yesterday.
Police said Hani Bokhari, reportedly a student pilot at the Master Flying School in Pasay City, entered the NAIA departure zone at about 11 a.m. and went to the arrival zone allegedly to wait for his father, Abdullah Bokhari, a former pilot of the Saudi Arabian Airlines.
Hani said he came early because he did not know what time his father would arrive. “I just want to meet my father, that is why I came here,” he said.
Saudia flight SV 860 landed at 6:18 p.m. and Hani’s father was on the passenger manifest.
Police said Hani was able to elude detection by wearing a pilot’s uniform and a nameplate that says he is a Saudia crewmember’s dependent. He was arrested while he was about to leave using the employees’ entrance.
When immigration agents asked Hani for any documents that would give him the authority to stay in the arrival and departure zones, he was not able to present any identification card or passport.