Indian origin man lives undetected in Chicago airport amid fear of COVID-19; arrested

A 36-year-old Indian-origin man Aditya Singh who hails from suburbs of Los Angeles, California lived undetected for nearly three months in a secure area of Chicago's O'Hare International Airport since October 19. Singh was arrested on Monday and  has been charged with felony criminal trespass to a restricted area of an airport and misdemeaur ft. Due to Coronavirus pandemic, man was too scared to fly, informed US authorities. 

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As per PTI reports, prosecutors told a court that on October 19, Singh arrived at O’Hare on a flight from Los Angeles and has ever since allegedly lived in airport's security zone without detection. He was arrested after two United Airlines staff asked him to produce his identification. He showed m a badge, but it reportedly belonged to an operations manr who reported it missing in October.

Singh was arrested after two United Airlines staff asked him to produce his identification. He showed m a badge, but it reportedly belonged to an operations manr who reported it missing in October. After which airline employees called 911 and police took him into custody in terminal 2. 

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According to Assistant State Attorney Kathleen Hrty, Singh found staff badge in airport and was scared to go home due to pandemic. He mand to live on handouts from or passengers, Hrty told Cook County Judge Susana Ortiz. judge expressed surprise at circumstances of case.

“So if I understand you correctly, you’re telling me that an unauthorised, n-employee individual was allegedly living within a secure part of O’Hare airport terminal from Oct. 19, 2020, to Jan. 16, 2021, and was t detected? I want to understand you correctly,” Ortiz said as per PTI.

According to Assistant Public Defender Courtney Smallwood, Singh lives iin Los Angeles suburb of Orange with roommates and does t have a criminal background. He has a master's degree in hospitality and is unemployed. Though circumstances were unusual, allegations were n-violent, ackwledged Smallwood. Singh has been barred from entering airport if he is able to post USD 1,000 for bail. He is due back in court on January 27. 

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As per PTI report, judge said that court finds se facts and circumstances quite shocking for alleged period of time that this occurred.

“Being in a secured part of airport under a fake ID badge allegedly, based upon need for airports to be absolutely secure so that people feel safe to travel, I do find those alleged actions do make him a danger to community,” Ortiz said.

Chicago Department of Aviation's reaction

Chicago Department of Aviation, which oversees city's airports, said in a statement, "While this incident remains under investigation, we have been able to determine that accused did t pose a security risk to airport or to travelling public". 

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(With PTI Inputs)