A man who allegedly flew from London to New York without a passport or boarding pass was arrested on Monday.

The Metropolitan Police said Craig Sturt was detained in Richmond, south-west London, at around 8am on suspicion of failing to appear at court.

The 46-year-old, of Slough, Berkshire, is accused of travelling on a British Airways flight from Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 5 on December 23 last year without a passport or boarding pass, the Sun reported.

He was first arrested at around 8pm on Christmas Day after arriving back in London on a flight from New York.

We are assisting the authorities with their investigation

Scotland Yard said he was charged with obtaining services by deception, being unlawfully airside and boarding an aircraft without permission.

Sturt failed to appear for a hearing at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on January 22.

Following his arrest on Monday he remains in custody at a London police station.

British Airways said in a statement: “We are assisting the authorities with their investigation.”

A Heathrow Airport spokesman said: “All people who go airside are subject to security screening, including the individual involved in this case.

“We are supporting the authorities with their ongoing investigation.”