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Leander man charged with national security crimes after allegedly sneaking onto Austin-bound flight

The FBI and Salt Lake City police are still investigating the case.

AUSTIN, Texas — A Leander man has been indicted after allegedly sneaking onto a Delta Airlines flight without a ticket.

A federal grand jury charged Wicliff Fleurizard with national security crimes after he allegedly hid in the bathroom of a flight from Utah to Austin.

Court documents revealed Fleurizard boarded Delta flight #1683 on March 17 after allegedly taking photos of multiple passengers' phones and boarding passes while they weren't looking. He then opened an emergency equipment storage door before being assisted to a lavatory.

According to documents, Fleurizard waited in the bathroom near the front of the plane as passengers boarded the flight. He later moved to a bathroom near the back of the plane.

RELATED: Man allegedly boarded Austin-bound Delta flight by using photo of young girl's boarding pass

Once the plane started to taxi, Fleurizard was allegedly spotted leaving the bathroom by a flight attendant, who noticed no seats were available. Fleurizard was then questioned about his seat after a verified passenger was sitting in it.

Authorities later determined a young girl in the seat had the ticket purchased for her and that her father did not authorize anyone else to use it. Authorities spotted Fleurizard on surveillance footage allegedly taking photos of boarding passes and said he used his phone to board the plane.

According to documents, Fleurizard admitted he made a mistake, saying he was only trying to get home following a snowboarding trip. He's now charged with being a stowaway on an aircraft and device fraud.

RELATED: Flight attendant accused of filming 9-year-old on flight from Austin to stay in custody until trial

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