Sleepy FedEx Worker Becomes Accidental Stowaway

A FedEx ground crew worker may have thought he was dreaming when he suddenly found himself at cruising altitude aboard a cargo jet some 600 miles from home.

Officials said the worker, whose name wasn't released, fell asleep inside a Lubbock, Texas-bound aircraft while loading it in Memphis, Tennessee, and woke up mid-flight, Fox 34 reports.

Kelly Campbell, director of Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport, told The Commercial Appeal the man knocked on the cabin door and spoke with the pilots, who instructed him to sit in a jump seat in the cargo area and prepare for landing.

"This is very unusual," Campbell told the publication, adding that the man was interviewed by law enforcement, but wasn't arrested.

In a statement to Fox 34, FedEx said it was aware of the incident involving Flight 1459, which landed in Lubbock at 5:30 a.m. local time Friday.

"There was never any danger to our employees or cargo," FedEx said. "We are fully cooperating with investigating authorities."

The Lubbock airport said in its own statement that the man "was a FedEx employee from Memphis, who, it is believed, fell asleep on the plane before it departed. Air Traffic Control was notified of the incident by the flight crew, and dispatchers at Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport were notified at 5:17 a.m. The flight landed in Lubbock at 5:30 a.m."

It was unclear if the employee will continue working the night shift.