New video shows passenger boarded Delta flight with meat cleaver after clearing security

(WKRC) – Newly released video shows a passenger boarded a Delta Air Lines flight with a meat cleaver in a carry-on bag, prompting a security response and the removal of all passengers for rescreening.

The incident occurred Nov. 13 at Portland International Airport, where a passenger later identified in a police report as Rommy Gadelmoula made it through Transportation Security Administration screening with the cleaver in a shopping bag. He then boarded a flight to Salt Lake City, according to police and the video.

The pilot exited the aircraft and spoke with airport staff. Passengers were told there was a security issue that needed to be addressed before departure.

“Everybody was getting a little agitated and fidgety,” passenger Jacob Hafen told Fox 12. “Finally the captain came on and said, ‘We have a security issue we need to clear before we can take off.’”

Video shows Gadelmoula being escorted off the plane by an officer. A flight attendant had spotted the cleaver in his bag, according to the police report, via Fox 12.

All passengers were required to deplane and undergo additional screening. The flight was delayed about three hours, reports the station.

“It was pretty insane to think that something like that can get on an airplane,” Hafen said to Fox 12.

Gadelmoula told authorities he brought the cleaver on board because he got “a good deal” on it, according to the report cited by Fox 12. He was not charged and later boarded another flight.

“No one wants to miss something of that magnitude,” said Trang Kim, TSA union vice president of AFGE Local 1127 in Oregon, to Fox 12. “But mistakes happen.”