A young Asian man used a rubber mask to disguise himself as an elderly white man on a flight from Hong Kong to Vancouver, CNN is reporting.
The American news channel says that it has obtained a confidential Canada Border Services Agency alert about the "unbelievable case of concealment" on the Oct. 29 Air Canada flight.
According to the alert, posted on the CNN website, the young man wore a mask covering his face, neck and shoulders.
"The passenger in question was observed at the beginning of the flight to be an elderly Caucasian male who appeared to have young looking hands," the alert reads.
"During the flight the subject attended the washroom and emerged an Asian male that appeared to be in his early 20s."
When the suspect arrived in Vancouver, he said he wanted to make a claim for refugee status, according to the alert.
Spokespeople for the CBSA could not be reached for comment Thursday evening. However, a communications officer confirmed to CNN that a foreign national who boarded an Air Canada flight under false pretenses on Oct. 29 is being held in custody and is scheduled for an immigration hearing.
