Ending Soon! Save 33% on All Access

Woman Accidentally Ends Up In Jamaica Without A Passport After Being Put on Wrong Flight: 'The Gate Agent Did Not Do Her Job' Beverly Ellis-Hebard flies from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Jacksonville, Florida, about every six weeks.

By Emily Rella

Getty Images

When traveling, there's always a fear of getting to the airport and realizing that you don't have proper identification to get on the flight, whether it's a driver's license or a passport for international travel.

But one Frontier Airlines passenger went through security to get on a flight from Philadelphia to Jacksonville, Florida, and somehow ended up in Jamaica — without a passport.

Beverly Ellis-Hebard told local outlet ABC 6 that she uses Frontier because she flies to her second home in Jacksonville every six weeks.

Ellis-Hebard took a last-minute bathroom break and was rushed to board her flight. While measuring her carry-on in the baggage sizer, she cut her arm and a flight attendant rushed her to board as she tended to her wound.

Once on board, the flight attendant that was helping her bandage up then joked that she would be able to relax about the incident once the plane got to sunny Jamaica.

Except, it wasn't a joke.

"I laughed. I said 'I would love to be going there but I have a beach where I live,'" Ellis-Hebard told the outlet. "She said, 'Look at me. This plane is going to Jamaica.' And I knew by the look on her face she wasn't joking."

Thankfully when the flight landed, Jamaican authorities allowed her to stay on the jetway until she was able to board another flight back stateside "hours later."

"It should have never have happened because I did not have a passport," Ellis-Hebard said bluntly. "The woman at the gate did not do her job."

Frontier Airlines said in a statement that the woman would receive a $600 flight voucher for the ordeal.

"We extend our utmost apologies to Beverly Ellis-Hebard for this unfortunate experience," the airline said. "We sincerely regret that Ms. Ellis-Hebard was able to board the wrong flight."

Related: This Popular Airline Is Offering a Pass That Gives You Unlimited Flights for an Entire Year

The incident follows one in February when a man boarded a plane on an American Airlines flight to Sidney, Montana thinking he had booked a ticket to Sydney, Australia, prompting him to miss his cruise that was set to depart halfway around the world.

Frontier Airlines recently debuted its GoWild! Summer Pass, which allows passengers to take an unlimited number of flights from May 2 to September 30.

The airline was down around 10.45% year-over-year as of Friday afternoon.

Emily Rella

Entrepreneur Staff

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business News

TikTok Reportedly Laid Off a 'Large Percentage' of Employees as the App's Fate in the U.S. Remains Unclear

Laid-off TikTok employees were notified Wednesday night through Thursday morning.

Business News

Four Seasons Orlando Responds to Viral TikTok: 'There's Something Here For All Ages'

The video has amassed over 45.4 million views on TikTok.

Business News

More People Are Exploring Entrepreneurship Because of This Unexpected Reason

More new business applications were filed in 2023 than in any other year so far.

Personal Finance

This Investment Bundle Includes a Trading Course and Stock Screener Tool for $150

Approach the stock market with an increased understanding.

Growing a Business

5 Strategies to Know As You Scale Your Business

Scaling a service-based company requires a comprehensive approach that goes beyond simply increasing revenue. It requires careful planning, strategic decision-making and a deep understanding of market dynamics.