Man without ticket slips by airport security to punch random traveler, Utah cops say

A 42-year-old man somehow passed through a security checkpoint Saturday at Salt Lake City International Airport despite not having an airline ticket, The Deseret News reported.

Then police say Victor Cossio punched another traveler, apparently at random, and took his phone before walking away, KUTV reported.

Salt Lake City police responding to the airport’s concourse G talked to the traveler and viewed security footage before arresting Cossio, whom they said had attacked the other man “for no reason,” The Salt Lake Tribune reported.

Officers arrested Cossio on suspicion of assault and robbery, The Deseret News reported. The other man received medical treatment at a nearby hospital, according to the newspaper.

Court documents aren’t clear on why Cossio was at the airport, KUTV reported.

Transportation Security Administration officials are investigating how he passed through a TSA checkpoint to a secure concourse without a ticket, according to the station.

“TSA’s travel document verification procedures were not properly followed at Salt Lake City International Airport on Saturday, March 30,” the agency wrote in a statement, KSTU reported.

“As a result, an individual who was not ticketed for travel gained access to the sterile area of the airport,” the statement continues. “The individual and his belongings were screened through the security checkpoint with no alarms.”

The TSA officer on duty at the time “has been given remedial training,” KSTU reported.

This story was originally published April 3, 2019 at 10:01 AM with the headline "Man without ticket slips by airport security to punch random traveler, Utah cops say."