Edward Hall III Forgets ID, Hops Counter At JFK To Make Flight

A 24-year old Columbia University student made headlines this week when he jumped onto a moving baggage belt at JFK Airport in an effort to make his flight, the New York Post reports.

Edward Hall III, a behavioral economics researcher at the University, was on his way to San Francisco on United when he realized he forgot his photo ID. Fittingly, a TSA official refused to let him pass through security without an ID, so Hall took matters into his own hands when he reportedly asked the official, "Can you put me in a suitcase and send me down the baggage belt?"

When the agent refused, Hall jumped onto the baggage belt in an apparent effort to be slid through to the plane via baggage security. Hall was arrested roughly 20 minutes later close to the tarmac saying to cops, "I just wanted to make my flight."

While the TSA has gotten flack for their excessive patdowns, this one's totally on the passenger this time.

Comments

[slackgeek]

10:30 PM on 01/22/2011

i think it was a fantastic plan, i can't believe it didn't work.

[Veri]

01:41 PM on 01/23/2011

I can't believe it took them 20 minutes to find him... oh, yes I can.

[paulwl]

12:10 PM on 01/22/2011

TSA thinks they can stop and protect,Not! There are so many 'holes', they just don't have the brain power. All people DON'T think alike.

[Angelus2007]

01:33 PM on 01/21/2011

This is example #1 of why not everyone who goes to an Ivy League school is smarter than everyone else.

[Julia Bailey]

02:38 PM on 01/21/2011

He isn't a student, he's staff.

[Julia Bailey]

02:38 PM on 01/21/2011

Never mind, re-read the first paragraph.

[shanghaislim]

01:05 PM on 01/21/2011

Why did it take them 20 minutes to get him?

[TStringfellow]

07:19 PM on 01/21/2011

Likely because they preferred to wait until he was spit out the other end rather than crawl through the shaft.

[Wood]

10:46 AM on 01/21/2011

doofus..

[axt113]

05:29 PM on 01/21/2011

Probably did it as an intentional prank

[rich3324]

08:41 AM on 01/21/2011

I know it's not PC, but this guy needs a beating.

[Dua Travel]

06:38 PM on 01/20/2011

For those of you who love to travel, check out this awesome video -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ys69oHN0mDU

[Max Shaw]

04:38 PM on 01/20/2011

Behavioral Economics Researcher? I would say he succeeded if his goal was to research the behavior of other behevaiorally and/or economically-challenged people in the local jail he is about to visit..

[Whenallissaidanddone]

02:22 PM on 01/20/2011

It's illegal for the tsa to disallow you to board without photo ID if you're American and flying within the US. Try it, you're actually able to board without an ID, which is something most tsa and agents don't know.

[Sizzzle]

02:26 PM on 01/20/2011

how can one prove that one is indeed an American in such a case?

[roald]

03:39 PM on 01/20/2011

Being White, clean-shaven, well-dressed, and polite? Everyone else is obviously a terrorist.

[MrUnlimited]

08:32 AM on 01/21/2011

Classic catch-22...if what the first poster wrote is true, then in order to take advantage of that legal loophole you need an ID...but if you have an ID you wouldn't need to take advantage of that loophole. The plot thickens...

[HighDesertBob]

05:07 PM on 01/20/2011

Effective June 21, 2008, adult passengers (18 and over) are required to show a U.S. federal or state-issued photo ID that contains the following: name, date of birth, gender, expiration date and a tamper-resistant feature in order to be allowed to go through the checkpoint and onto their flight.

Passengers who do not or cannot present an acceptable ID will have to provide information to the Transportation Security Officer performing Travel Document Checking duties in order to verify their identity. Passengers who are cleared through this process may be subject to additional screening. Passengers whose identity cannot be verified by TSA may not be allowed to enter the screening checkpoint or onto an airplane.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/acceptable_documents.shtm

[Conservi-Jesus]

02:17 PM on 01/20/2011

Does this tie to the article about 45% of college students being stupider AFTER college?

Me thinks perhaps?

[dynesuh]

07:09 PM on 01/21/2011

Please amuse me by showing me which article you're speaking of. I have a feeling this goes along with Glenn Beckian beliefs of universities being "re-education camps." Please, show me the article right away. I'm bubbling with curiosity.

[hackerblaster]

02:05 PM on 01/20/2011

I was expecting this student to be from Glenn Beck University.

[sf omega man]

01:45 PM on 01/20/2011

Well first we have to understand he's an economist. Or studying to become one. This affects his ability to function in the real world.

Consider that a normal person might reasonably consider any or all of the following:

"There must be other United flights from JFK to San Francisco. This can't possibly be the last one." or,

"You know, even if I slip past security this time and make my flight, I might not be able to repeat this neat trick when I need to come home from San Francisco. They might ask for ID on the return leg." or,

"This might not be a good idea. I could get arrested when we land."

Columbia U, I bow my head in mourning, for low your once mighty admission standards have fallen.

[dubbleplusgood]

01:33 PM on 01/20/2011

Me thinks the boy doth watcheth too many sitcoms.

[LI2US]

01:32 PM on 01/20/2011

LOL

A behavioral research student. That was the part that got me laughing. Give him an E for effort, and an F for cognitive skills.

[Tom95134]

01:42 PM on 01/20/2011

Go To Jail! Go directly to jail, Do Not Pass Go! Do not collect $200.

One has to wonder what this guys is going to do for a living once he gets out of prison.

[374662]

01:45 PM on 01/20/2011

I was thinking A for creativity but F for intelligence.

Wonder if Columbia will reconsider their decision to admit him?

[maxfax]

01:20 PM on 01/20/2011

Why would he believe he could make it on the plane this way?

[tonewheel]

01:44 PM on 01/20/2011

Because he's 24 years old and has never been told "no". And, he is Edward Hall the 3RD, so he's feeling just that much more entitled.