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Reporter exposes airline security loophole

A Daily Record reporter has exposed a worrying loophole in security at two of Britain’s biggest airlines.

Journalist James Moncur was able to board two internal UK flights using a fake name and ID without being challenged and even made it into the cockpit on one of the flights.

James flew from Glasgow to Luton with easyJet and from Stansted to Prestwick with Ryanair using the name Hani Hanjour – the same name as the al-Qaeda terrorist who flew American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon on September 11.

He was able to board the flights using an International Student Identity Card, which was issued to him without any checks.

James told readers: “It was ridiculously easy to get my hands on an International Student Identity Card in the name of Hanjour.

“And such cards are happily accepted by Ryanair and easyJet even though they are issued without a single security check.”

On arrival at Glasgow airport James joined the easyJet ticket queue for a seat on the next plane to Luton. He was asked for photo ID and to confirm the spelling of his bogus name.

James said: “Although he was dead, I was sure the name Hani Hanjour would still be on a specialist terrorist database and would alert security. Amazingly, nothing happened and I handed over £65 for my flight.”

After arriving at Luton, James took a taxi to Stansted where he approached the Ryanair sales desk. He was asked to produce either his passport or drving license as proof of his identity, but after explaining that he didn’t have his passport and did not drive, he was told his student card would do.

James said: “Just weeks before the anniversary of the world’s worst terrorist attack, I had shown how easy it was to breach airport security. Now the airlines must make sure it never happens again.”

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