Stunned brother of jobless Brit who flew from Heathrow to New York without a passport or plane ticket reveals shock over series of blunders - as Home Secretary 'demands answers'

Craig Sturt, 46, has been charged with Fraud and Aviation Security Act offences

The brother of a jobless man who managed to fly from London to New York City without a passport or plane ticket was devastated after learning he managed to ‘dodge security at the UK’s biggest airport’.

Craig Sturt, 46, is accused of ‘tailgating’ another traveller through security and passport checkpoints at Heathrow’s Terminal 5 and enjoying free food and drinks on the long-haul British Airways flight before landing at JFK airport.

He is said to have been detained by armed US officials after they found he had no documentation and was sent back to the UK on a charter flight. He was then hand-delivered to Met Police and arrested before being taken to a hospital in Reading.

But Sturt, who was later charged with Fraud and Aviation Security Act offences, has allegedly escaped the hospital and not been seen since, having become the subject of a missing person’s appeal.

His brother Lee Smith, who claims Sturt has a ‘trouble past’, told The Sun on Sunday that he was completely shocked when police called to tell inform him of the breach of security at Heathrow, which he has branded a ‘serious issue’.

It is also understood that James Cleverly is demanding answers in what sources close to the Home Secretary say is a ‘humiliating fiasco’ for both the airport and Border Force.

Craig Sturt, 46, (pictured) was the subject of an ‘urgent missing person appeal’ when he followed another passenger through security and passport checkpoints on December 23, 2023

Craig Sturt, 46, is accused of ‘tailgating’ another traveller through security and passport checkpoints at Heathrow’s Terminal 5 (pictured) and enjoying free food and drinks on the long-haul British Airways flight before landing at JFK airport in NYC

James Cleverly, pictured last week, is reportedly demanding answers in what sources close to the Home Secretary say is a ‘humiliating fiasco’ for both the airport and Border Force

Mr Smith, 52, of Langley near Slough, told the newspaper it is ‘ridiculous’ that his brother successfully evaded Heathrow security and was able to fly overseas without a ticket or identification.

‘If Craig, with a troubled past, could dodge security then presumably anyone else with sinister motives could do the same. Heads should roll,’ the father-of-three said. ‘How has this been allowed to happen?’

He recalled how it felt ‘surreal’ and that he ‘couldn’t believe what I was hearing’ when police phoned him after Sturt had been apprehended on Christmas Eve.

‘I thought that can’t be right. He doesn’t even have a passport,’ he shared. ‘They said “Well he’s just been caught walking down the runway at JFK Airport in New York.”‘

Mr Smith, who is Sturt’s next of kin, said he has ‘no idea how [his brother] managed to pull it off’ but believes the situation demonstrates a ‘serious issue’ in British security.

Such an occurrence was thought to have been impossible because of increased security and technological advances since 9/11.

It is now understood that the Home Secretary is probing the incident. A source familiar with the situation told The Sun: ‘Heads will roll. It’s staggering this could happen. It doesn’t bear thinking about what might have happened if a terrorist had successfully boarded a flight undetected.

‘This is a major embarrassment. Officials in the US are furious and demanding to know how this could have happened.’

A Heathrow spokeswoman said: ‘All people who go airside are subject to security screening, including the individual involved in this case. We are supporting the authorities with their ongoing investigation.’

The Met Police said: ‘On December 24, 2023, police were made aware of an alleged breach of security at Heathrow airport and a male was subsequently arrested and later charged with Fraud and Aviation Security Act offences.

‘We continue to work with all our partners to review and enhance the already robust security measures in place which are kept under constant review by the wider security partnership.’

British Airways said: ‘We are assisting the authorities with their investigation.’

The Home Office and the Department for Transport both refused to comment.

Mr Sturt boarded a British Airways plane to New York from Heathrow’s Terminal 5. British Airways said it is ‘assisting the authorities with their investigation’. Pictured: A file photo of a BA plane taking off from Heathrow Terminal 5

Sturt was detained by armed US officials at JFK airport after they found he had no documentation and was sent back to the UK on a charter flight. He was then hand-delivered to Met Police and arrested before being taken to a hospital in Reading. Pictured: File photo of John F. Kennedy Airport in Queens, New York City

After escaping from hospital, a warrant for Mr Sturt’s arrest was issued on January 22, and Thames Valley Police issued a photo of him on January 30.

The force said at the time: ‘Urgent missing person appeal. Please can you help us find Craig? The 46-year-old is 6ft, slim, with short dark brown hair.

‘When he was last seen, he was wearing a grey jacket, a top, black jogging bottoms and white trainers.

‘Craig was last seen in Reading, but is from Slough and also has links to Heathrow and the Tottenham Court Road in London. If you see Craig, please do not approach him, instead call 999.’

He has been charged with obtaining services by deception; being unlawfully airside; boarding an aircraft without permission.

He was remanded to appear at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court – yet the unemployed 46-year-old has still not been found by police. He has been spotted taking £200 in cash from a machine on Tottenham Court Road in London.