Formal Charge In Alleged Philadelphia Pilot Impersonation
PHILADELPHIA (CBS/AP) — A French man has been formally charged with fraudulently gaining access to the cockpit of a plane at Philadelphia International Airport by impersonating an employee of another airline (see related story).
Federal prosecutors said Tuesday that 61-year-old Philippe Jeannard of La Rochelle, France was charged with one count of fraud in connection with an identification document after authorities said he was found in the cockpit of a Florida-bound US Airways flight on March 20 at the airport.
Officials said Jeannard, wearing a shirt with an Air France logo, sought a seat upgrade and later used a fraudulent Air France ID card belonging to an ex-employee to gain access to the plane's cockpit, where he was found sitting in the jump seat behind the pilot.
Jeannard's attorney didn't immediately return a call seeking comment.
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