Rush Passport – Passport Blog

Passport security is not a joke.  Some may think it is funny that an Asian man in his early 20’s boarded a plane from Hong Kong to Canada by disguising himself as an aging Caucasian man.  However, this passport security breach has Canadian officials up in arms.  While it seems that the Asian man did not present a dangerous situation, Canadian officials are demanding a probe into what border guards have identified as unbelievable.

The passport fiasco began when the unidentified Asian man arrived at Hong Kong International Airport in disguise on Oct. 29^th, 2010.  It seems that he traded boarding passes with a Caucasian, 55-year-old American in an effort to board an Air Canada flight.  What is still unclear is how the Asian man managed to get past airport passport control and Air Canada officials at the gate.

Investigators surmise that the Asian man made his way through checkpoints after putting on an elaborate disguise consisting of a silicon head and face mask, eyeglasses, a brown cardigan and a brown leather cap.

In order to board the plane, he had to produce a valid passport and a Hong Kong Departure Card which is issued to visitors upon arrival.

It seems that since the Asian man did not have a valid US passport, he must’ve gotten the US passport from his accomplice.

The unidentified Asian man successfully boarded the flight and sat in his seat.  Once the flight was in the air, it seems that the flight crew became suspicious after noticing that his hands looked young for his face and they contacted Air Canada.  Air Canada alerted Canada Border Services Agency.

After sitting in disguise on the plane for several hours, the Asian man got up from his seats, walked to the lavatory, removed his disguise and returned to his seat.

When the flight landed, Canada Border Service Officers were waiting for him at the gate.

Initially, when confronted by border officials, he denied doing anything wrong.  However, when officers found the bag in which he’d hidden the disguise, the man confessed and requested refugee status.

Now, it’s time for the blame game.  How in the world was a man without a valid passport allowed to board a plane from Hong Kong to Canada?  Canada’s transport ministry blames the airline, Air Canada, maintaining that it is the airline’s responsibility to confirm the identity of all passengers.  Air Canada was supposed to compare his face to his photo ID.

Air Canada blames Hong Kong officials.  Air Canada says that the security breach should’ve been exposed at one of the several identity checks that occur before departure at Hong Kong International Airport.  There is even a government-run passport control that did not catch the passport breach.

In the meantime, the passenger is being held in Vancouver, British Columbia, pending an Immigration and Refugee Board hearing.

The American accomplice still remains at large.

Click to see a video of the passport security breach.

If you are the accomplice and would like to come forward, please contact the authorities.  If you are an Asian man with a disguise of an elderly Caucasian man, go to a costume party.  If you are a US citizen and you are interested in getting an expedited US Passport or if you are interested in getting a US Passport Card, visit us at http://www.rushpassport.com or call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to speak with a Live Passport Agent.  (877) 937-7277 (All 50 States) or (212) 643-9305 New York Passport Agency.  Rush Passport™ Official US Passport Expeditors, serving Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, Manhattan, Westchester County, Nassau County & Suffolk County, Long Island, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Miami, Florida.