A Texas man has been charged with using a fake boarding pass to board a United Airlines flight at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport, according to court records and airline officials.

The incident occurred last month when the man allegedly presented fraudulent travel documents to gain access to the aircraft. The plane was forced to return to the gate after the security breach was discovered, disrupting normal flight operations.

The suspect appeared in a Houston courtroom on Monday to face charges related to the alleged boarding pass fraud. He was removed from the United Airlines flight bound for Los Angeles after airline personnel and security officials identified the fake documentation.

The case highlights ongoing security concerns at major airports and the measures in place to detect fraudulent travel documents. United Airlines has not commented on specific security protocols but confirmed the incident occurred and that normal operations resumed after the passenger was removed.

Federal authorities are handling the case, as incidents involving fake boarding passes and unauthorized access to commercial aircraft fall under federal jurisdiction. The investigation into how the man obtained or created the fraudulent boarding pass is ongoing.