Delta Airlines has launched an investigation after a man allegedly stalked a family through Washington Dulles International Airport and boarded the wrong flight in an attempt to sit near them.
Lauren Benton, a mother of two, became concerned when she spotted the man washing his hands in the women's restroom before he proceeded to follow her family through the terminal, according to ABC News.
The unsettling incident reached its peak when the passenger managed to board the family's flight from Washington Dulles to Atlanta, Georgia. Staff only confronted him about his ticket after they were alerted to the situation.
Ms Benton said: "He was standing in the ladies room washing his hands, and I was immediately alarmed.
"My heart started beating immediately -- I didn't know what this man's intentions were.”
The man continued to follow them and did not have his boarding pass checked - which allowed him to sit down in the same row on the plane.
Ms Benton added: "My husband assertively confronts him and says, 'Hey, is this really your seat?' And the man says, 'yes, it's my seat'.
"The stewardess requested to see the man's boarding pass -- he was unable to produce it."
She added that her children felt traumatised by the incident.
"Pay attention to your surroundings and follow your gut instincts,” she said.
The unknown passenger had a boarding pass for another flight that day and since he had his identification no offence was technically committed.
Delta told ABC that police had spoken to the man but no charges were filed.
A statement added: “Delta has processes in place for gate agents and flight crews to verify that individuals onboard aircraft prior to departure are customers that are booked on that particular flight.
“Delta is reviewing the matter in question internally and has been in touch with airport authorities in conjunction with this review."
Gerry Phelan, a former federal security director at several airports, told ABC News:"Delta should ensure that that boarding pass matched up with the individual, which it did.
“But it certainly didn't match up with the flight that they're boarding at that time."
