A man who has COVID-19 may face arrest as he dressed up as his wife to avoid travel restrictions.
Imposter onboard
A COVID-positive man in Indonesia recently decided that he simply could not wait to travel until he no longer had the virus. He therefore took his wife’s ID and her negative COVID test certificate, and dressed up in her niqab and boarded the plane. The man may have gotten away with it, had he not changed into his own clothes in the toilets mid-way through the flight, drawing attention to himself from a previously unsuspecting cabin crew.
This is not the first time a passenger has used a fake Coronavirus test to travel. Earlier this year, Israeli officials investigated a number of passengers who had provided the airline with fake tests. However, such cases are few and far between.
Isolated and facing arrest
A crew member notified the authorities at the arrival destination Ternate, Indonesia, where the passenger was detained after exiting the flight. An on-duty health official reportedly tested the man immediately and the result came back positive. As a result, the man is now in self-isolation and could also face arrest for his actions.
Speaking on the incident, Ternate police chief Aditya Laksimada confirmed:
“He bought the plane ticket with his wife’s name and brought the identity card, the PCR test result, and the vaccination card with his wife’s name.”
Thanks to modern aircrafts and the implementation of extra measures, the other passengers on the plane should be at a minimal risk of catching the virus. Although, they probably should never have been exposed to such danger in the first place. Authorities will continue to be vigilant going forward to prevent future incidents like this.
What do you make of this man’s actions? How can future incidents like this be avoided? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
