Get All Access for $5/mo

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

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

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

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.

Editor's Pick

Leadership

7 Telltale Signs of a Weak Leader

Whether a bully or a people pleaser who can't tell hard truths, poor leadership takes many forms.

Franchise 500 Annual Ranking

50 Franchise CMOs Who Are Changing the Game

Get to know the industry's most influential marketing power players.

Side Hustle

'Hustling Every Day': These Friends Started a Side Hustle With $2,500 Each — It 'Snowballed' to Over $500,000 and Became a Multimillion-Dollar Brand

Paris Emily Nicholson and Saskia Teje Jenkins had a 2020 brainstorm session that led to a lucrative business.

Thought Leaders

6 Tips From a Clean Beauty Entrepreneur

Sarah Biggers went from a newbie in the natural beauty space to a pro in just a few years. Here are six things she wishes she'd known at the beginning.

Marketing

5 Critical Mistakes to Avoid When Giving a Presentation

Are you tired of enduring dull presentations? Over the years, I have compiled a list of common presentation mistakes and how to avoid them. Here are my top five tips.

Science & Technology

5 Rule-Bending AI Hacks to Make Your Mornings More Productive and Profitable

By 2025, AI will transform productivity by streamlining workflows and cutting costs. Major companies like Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI are leading the way, advancing AI into "Phase 3," where tools act as digital assistants. Discover 5 AI hacks to boost efficiency and redefine your daily routine.