Alleged Southwest Airlines stowaway caught in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- A 62-year-old woman, who was already on probation for trying to fly without a ticket, was arrested after stowing away on a flight from San Jose to Los Angeles.

Marilyn Jean Hartman was arrested at the Los Angeles International Airport late Monday. She had been able to board a Southwest Airlines flight from San Jose to Phoenix by way of Los Angeles, but the flight crew discovered during a head count that she had no boarding pass.

A source told the San Jose Mercury News that Hartman was able to board the plane without a ticket or boarding pass. But she still went through metal detectors and other security checks, the source said.

Hartman was arrested six times at the San Francisco airport, officials said. She was put on probation Feb. 27 after three alleged attempts to stow away on flights to Hawaii.

Southwest Airlines said it is investigating how Hartman was able to get on the plane at San Jose. The Transportation Security Agency is also reviewing how she was able to avoid showing a ticket or boarding pass.