Multiple Passengers Skipped Customs on US-Bound International Flight

Paris to New York fliers miss immigration check

Bargain airline Norse Atlantic Airways may be new to the international flight market, but one rookie mistake may cost it plenty.

After an April 4 flight from Paris to New York landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport and its passengers were able to skip passport control and head straight into the Big Apple.

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Norse Atlantic, which only started operating its Paris-to-New York route on March 26, allowed its passengers to disembark without clearing the standard immigration check. Flight travelers reported they weren’t required to pass through immigration checkpoints and instead were deplaned at the terminal leading straight into the airport.

"We are investigating a disembarkation issue that took place on arrival at New York JFK on Tuesday evening concerning a Norse Atlantic Airways flight from Paris," A Norse Atlantic statement said, as reported by Insider. "A small number of customers who did not clear US immigration has been directly contacted regarding this matter."

The airline realized the mistake and sent the following email to Flight NO301 passengers asking them to return to airport customs.

"This is a reminder that you have to be cleared by immigration when entering the US. You did unfortunately not clear immigration upon arrival into New York JFK last night. Please report back to Terminal 7 at JFK this morning at 0900LT at Row E. It is in your own interest that you are processed by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) of the US Government. If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected]."

JFK airport officials and U.S. Customs and Border Protection are reportedly investigating the Norse Atlantic snafu. If the airline is found to be at fault for the immigration check-in incident, it could face robust, per-passenger fines.