SERIAL STOWAWAY STRIKES AGAIN
She did it again. Serial stowa way Marilyn Hartman, who has had repeated arrests for sneaking onto planes without a ticket and entering restricted areas of airports, is expected to be in bond court Saturday after illegally boarding yet another flight. This time, authorities say, she got onto a Jan. 14 flight to London before being arrested by British customs at Heathrow International Airport the next day.
She faces one misdemeanor count of criminal trespass to land and one felony count of theft or unauthorized control greater than $ 500 but less than $ 10,000.
Chicago Police told Sneed Hartman successfully got through security, bypassed TSA and was able to board a bus to the O’Hare International terminal. After spending approximately 24 hours in the international terminal, the 66- year- old woman successfully boarded a British Airways flight without a boarding pass by blending in with the passengers, a police spokesman said.
“British customs picked her up upon arrival after being forewarned by the airline there was a passenger on board without a ticket and a boarding pass, although she was able to find a seat,” he said. “She was flown back to O’Hare last night where she is still awaiting charges.”
In a statement, TSA said there is an ongoing investigation, and the federal agency is “working closely with our law enforcement and airline partners in that effort.
“Upon learning of the incident TSA and its aviation partners took immediate action to review security practices throughout the airport.”
Hartman, who once told her public defender she grew up in Chicago and went to Chicago Vocational School but has no family and has lived in shelters in the city, claims she feels airports are safer then living on the street. Authorities listed a Grays Lake address for her Friday.