Qais Ahmad Tillawi was removed from Air France Flight 69 at Phoenix Sky Harbor on Jan. 25 after boarding with a canceled ticket that had been voided for use of an "unauthorized credit card." He reportedly entered the sterile area, walked onto the plane and refused to identify himself while pacing the cabin. Authorities say he carried about 20 credit cards, seven driver's licenses, two passports and apparent fake employee badges. Phoenix police detained him and the FBI took over the investigation; he now faces federal charges.
Man Allegedly Boards Air France Flight in Phoenix With Canceled Pass, Multiple IDs and About 20 Credit Cards
A man hands over a boarding pass and passport to a airport gate agent.Getty
A man identified as Qais Ahmad Tillawi was removed from Air France Flight 69 at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on Sunday, Jan. 25, after reportedly boarding the aircraft with an invalid boarding pass, an FBI affidavit obtained by PEOPLE says.
According to the affidavit, Tillawi purchased a boarding pass online at about 2:00 p.m. and checked in minutes later. Air France canceled that pass at 2:19 p.m., citing an "unauthorized credit card." Still, agents say Tillawi arrived at the airport around 2:37 p.m., abandoned a rental car at the curb and disposed of two jackets before proceeding through TSA into the sterile area just before 3:00 p.m.
The Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in ArizonaRobert Alexander/Getty
Airline staff told investigators a gate agent's system flagged an issue with Tillawi's boarding credentials. The agent says Tillawi refused to hand over his passport, first holding it at a distance and later bringing it close to the representative's face. The agent did not find his name on the passenger list but the affidavit says Tillawi nonetheless walked onto the plane via the jet bridge and paced through the economy cabin rather than taking a seat.
“Out of concern for the aircraft and the passengers, the captain ordered Tillawi to disembark the aircraft,” the affidavit states. The document says Tillawi offered no verbal response but typed on his phone, "Send the USA marshal."
After the captain contacted law enforcement, passengers were deboarded and Phoenix Police escorted Tillawi off the plane. The Phoenix Police Department confirmed they detained and removed a passenger that day and said the FBI assumed the investigation.
An Air France planeJoan Valls/Urbanandsport/Nurphoto
The affidavit reports items found with Tillawi included roughly 20 credit cards, seven driver’s licenses (two from California and five from Arizona), a U.S. passport, a Jordanian passport, a Jordanian military service book and what appeared to be fraudulent employee badges for organizations including Deloitte, IBM and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
FBI agents who spoke with Tillawi’s brother were told Tillawi attended Arizona State University, speaks fluent English, was fired from PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2024, has struggled with drug addiction, and has a diagnosis of psychosis. The brother also said Tillawi was detained at a Dubai airport in 2024 for suspicious behavior and was briefly hospitalized for mental health treatment.
According to court records, Tillawi was arrested on Jan. 25 and faces federal counts of interfering with flight crew members and entering an aircraft or secured airport area in violation of security requirements. The FBI office in Phoenix has been contacted for comment.
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