In a peculiar incident, a man has been formally charged for stowing away on a flight from Copenhagen, Denmark, to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on November 4, as revealed by court documents obtained by CNN. The individual, identified as Sergey Vladimirovich Ochigava and believed to be of Russian citizenship, is facing charges related to being a “Stowaway on Aircraft.”
According to the complaint, Ochigava underwent Customs and Border Protection (CBP) scrutiny upon arriving at Los Angeles International Airport. During this process, he allegedly provided false and misleading information about his travel to the United States, initially claiming that he left his passport on the airplane.
CBP officers, however, were unable to locate Ochigava’s name on the flight manifest for the Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) flight or any other international incoming flight. The complaint further notes that Ochigava lacked a passport or visa necessary for entry into the United States.
At his arraignment in the US District Court Central District of California on December 5, Ochigava pleaded not guilty to the charges. Currently housed in the federal prison at MCD Los Angeles, according to inmate records, Ochigava is set to face a jury trial on December 26. Despite CNN’s attempts to reach out to Ochigava’s federal public defender, no response has been received as of yet.
Details provided in the court documents shed light on the circumstances surrounding Ochigava’s arrest. Upon searching his bag, CBP officers reportedly discovered a Russian ID card, an Israeli ID card, and a partial photo of a passport on Ochigava’s iPhone, displaying personal information but lacking a photo. Attempts to verify the information in their system were reportedly unsuccessful.
Thom Mrozek, the director of media relations for the US Attorney’s Office in the Central District of California, indicated that while Ochigava is believed to be a Russian citizen, there has been no confirmation of any status he may hold with Israel.
The SAS flight crew provided additional insights into Ochigava’s behavior during the flight. Notably, he attracted attention for wandering around the plane and frequently changing his seat. The crew also observed him requesting two meals during each meal service and attempting to consume chocolate belonging to cabin crew members. While Ochigava’s boarding pass was not seen by the flight crew, they recalled him occupying a seat that was supposed to be unoccupied.
In response to the situation, Alexandra Lindgren Kaoukji, the head of media relations for SAS, stated, “We can confirm there has been a situation regarding a passenger departing from Copenhagen to the US on an SAS flight. The matter is being handled by relevant authorities both in the US and Denmark, and we cannot comment any further.”
When interviewed by the FBI with the assistance of a Russian-speaking CBP officer on November 5, Ochigava, who claimed to have a PhD in economics and marketing, stated that he worked in Russia as an economist “a long time ago.” However, he professed to not having slept for three days, expressed confusion about the circumstances, and was uncertain about having a plane ticket to the United States or how he ended up on the flight from Copenhagen.
The incident raises questions about airline security, visa enforcement, and the potential vulnerabilities in international air travel, prompting a closer examination of the circumstances leading to Ochigava’s unexpected journey across continents.