Passenger Boards Delta Flight with Meat Cleaver

New video shows security lapse that led to 3-hour flight delay

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Newly released footage shows a passenger, later identified as Rommy Gadelmoula, boarding a Delta flight from Portland to Salt Lake City in November 2025 while carrying a meat cleaver. The passenger was able to get through TSA screening with the prohibited item, leading to a security incident that forced all passengers to deplane and undergo rescreening, causing a 3-hour delay.

Why it matters

This incident raises concerns about airport security and the ability of passengers to bring dangerous items onto commercial flights, posing potential risks to public safety. It also highlights the challenges facing the TSA in the aftermath of a federal government shutdown, which may have contributed to the security lapse.

The details

The footage shows Gadelmoula boarding the plane with a meat cleaver in his shopping bag, which was spotted by a flight attendant once the aircraft was boarded. The pilot then exited the plane and spoke to airport employees, leading to a long delay for passengers. Gadelmoula told authorities he brought the cleaver because he got 'a good deal' on it, but was not charged with any crimes and was permitted to board a later flight.

  • On November 13, 2025, a passenger boarded Delta Flight 3233 from Portland to Salt Lake City with a meat cleaver.
  • Around 8 p.m., passengers boarded the aircraft, but the pilot then exited and spoke to airport employees, leading to a long delay.

The players

Rommy Gadelmoula

The passenger who brought a meat cleaver onto the Delta flight.

Jacob Hafen

A passenger on the flight who described the incident to Fox 12.

Trang Kim

The TSA union vice president of AFGE Local 1127 in Oregon, who commented on the incident.

Delta Air Lines

The airline operating the flight from Portland to Salt Lake City.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

The federal agency responsible for airport security screening.

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What’s next

The TSA employee responsible for the security lapse has received additional training, but it remains to be seen if any further actions will be taken to address the incident and prevent similar occurrences in the future.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges facing airport security and the need for continued vigilance to ensure the safety of commercial air travel. It also underscores the importance of thorough passenger screening and the need for robust security protocols to prevent dangerous items from being brought onto planes.