A Southwest Airlines (LUV) passenger was arrested by police for using an allegedly fake vaccination card while attempting to avoid a mandatory 10-day quarantine after arrival to Hawaii.
A 24-year-old woman from Chicago is accused of providing a fake document that falsely states her being vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus with the Moderna vaccine.
The woman arrived at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), the United States, on a Southwest Airlines (LUV) flight on August 23, 2021, according to court documents seen by the Associated Press. Here, during documents check, several suspicious details caught the airport screener’s attention.
First of all, the passenger was supposed to have a hotel reservation made before arriving to Hawaii, but the hotel could not confirm the fact of the reservation. Also, she did not provide any information about her return flight. Finally, instead of “Moderna”, the woman’s vaccination card said that she was vaccinated with the “Maderna” vaccine.
The traveler was accused of using falsified vaccination documents, the Attorney General’s office in Honolulu confirmed the NBC Chicago. The woman was arrested but later released on $2,000 bail. A court hearing is expected at the end of September 2021.
The FBI has seized thousands of fake COVID-19 vaccination cards which American travelers are trying to provide during airport screenings. American authorities are warning the public that people caught selling or possessing fake vaccination cards could be arrested and face heavy penalties, including jail time.