Russian National Facing Indictment for Illegal Stowaway Attempt on Flight from Copenhagen to LAX
Man indicted for being a stowaway on a Copenhagen to LAX flight Startling details emerge as authorities investigate how this security breach occurred
Court documents obtained by CNN indicate that Sergey Vladimirovich Ochigava, a Russian citizen, has been indicted for stowing away on a flight from Copenhagen, Denmark to LAX on November 4. He is facing charges for "Stowaway on Aircraft."
The complaint alleges that Ochigava provided inaccurate information about his travel to the United States, including claiming he left his passport on the airplane upon arriving at the Customs and Border Protection checkpoint at Los Angeles International Airport. According to the complaint, CBP officers could not locate Ochigava's name on the flight manifest for the Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) flight or any other international incoming flight. Additionally, the complaint states that Ochigava did not possess a passport or visa to enter the United States.
At his arraignment in the US District Court Central District of California on December 5, Ochigava pleaded not guilty to the charges, as stated in court documents. According to inmate records, he is currently being held at MCD Los Angeles federal prison. A jury trial has been scheduled for December 26. CNN has attempted to contact Ochigava's federal public defender, but has not received a response yet.
The arrest was first reported by tech news outlet 404 Media.
Details of the case
During a search of Ochigavas bag, CBP officers discovered a Russian ID card, an Israeli ID card, and a partial photo of a passport on Ochigavas iPhone. The photo contained personal information but no actual picture. Despite attempts to verify the information, CBP found no matches in their system.
Thom Mrozek, the director of media relations for the US Attorneys Office in the Central District of California, stated in an email to CNN that they believe the individual is a Russian citizen. However, they have not been able to confirm any status he may have with Israel.
The SAS flight crew reported that Ochigava drew attention by wandering around the plane and frequently changing seats. Additionally, he requested two meals during each meal service and at one point attempted to eat chocolates that belonged to members of the cabin crew, according to the complaint.
The complaint alleges that the flight crew did not check Ochigavas' boarding pass, but noted that he was sitting in a supposedly unoccupied seat. Although head counts were conducted by section to ensure proper balance for takeoff and landing, the numbers were not tallied, according to the complaint.
"We can confirm that a passenger departing from Copenhagen to the US on an SAS flight is the subject of a situation. The matter is being handled by relevant authorities in both the US and Denmark, and we cannot provide further comment," said Alexandra Lindgren Kaoukji, head of media relations for SAS, in an email to CNN.
Primary concern: How did this happen?
During an interview with the FBI conducted by a Russian-speaking CBP officer on November 5, Ochigava, who claimed to have a PhD in economics and marketing and to have worked as an economist in Russia "a long time ago," stated that he had not slept for three days, did not understand what was happening, was uncertain about having a plane ticket to the United States, was unsure about how he boarded the plane or why he was in Copenhagen, according to the complaint.
Federal authorities are currently investigating possible counterintelligence issues related to the individual, according to a law enforcement source who spoke with CNN. They suspect that mental health issues may have been a factor in the unusual incident.
Law enforcement's main focus right now is determining how the individual was able to enter the United States without the required documentation, the source added.
Stowaway found in the landing gear of a plane at Miami Airport
The Copenhagen Police referred CNN to Copenhagen Airport.
"We can confirm that an individual boarded the flight in question without a ticket or passport, as evidenced by our surveillance footage. Copenhagen Airport has provided the authorities with photo and video evidence to assist in their investigation," stated Lisa Agerley Kürstein, the press and communications manager for Copenhagen Airports, in a statement to CNN.
"We consider this issue to be of utmost importance, and it will be addressed as part of our ongoing efforts to enhance security by adjusting and strengthening our protocols," she added.
CNNs Andy Rose, Eve Brennan and Josh Campbell contributed to this report.
