Thread: Young Asian man boards flight from Hong Kong to Vancouver disguised as old white man

Canada Border Services Agency
A young Asian man allegedly disguised himself as a senior citizen before boarding an international flight to Canada.



Canada Border Services Agency
The mask that was found in a suitcase.
Hollywood makeup artists, eat your heart out.


Canadian authorities are investigating an "unbelievable" case where a young Asian male may have boarded a flight to Canada posing as a senior citizen.

The man, whose name was not released, was busted last Friday after getting off an Air Canada flight in Vancouver that originated from Hong Kong, according to an alert issued by the Canada Border Services Agency.

The passenger was observed as an "elderly Caucasian male who appeared to have young looking hands." During the flight "the subject attended the washroom and emerged an Asian male that appeared to be in his early 20s."

Authorities were waiting for him at the gate and escorted the man off the plane. He started to make a claim for refugee protection.

The young man initially claimed to only have one bag, but the flight crew found two additional pieces of luggage that were believed to belong to the man. One bag contained his personal clothing, and the other held a pair of gloves.

The third had a "disguise" kit, which held a silicone type head and neck mask of an elderly male, a brown leather cap, glasses and a brown cardigan.

When dressed in the costume, the man mimicked the movements of an elderly man. He later admitted that he boarded the flight with the mask and took it off several hours later.

Authorities believe he and a U.S. citizen may have performed a boarding pass exchange.

Jennifer Bourque, regional communications officer for the CBSA told CNN that the man is currently being detained.

"The individual will present before an IRB hearing. The officials of the CBSA will not disclose further information on this file," she added.