And other travel news you may have missed.
This week in travel, we’ve uncovered several stories that might have flown under your radar. Among them: Indian authorities arrested an American tourist for trying to contact an isolated tribe; immigration officers question Hugh Grant’s children; and Ryanair calls the cops over snacks.
Dive into these and more as we examine the latest in travel news.
NO.1
AMERICAN TOURIST GETS ARRESTED FOR TRAVELING TO FORBIDDEN ISLAND
On March 29, an American tourist tried to contact a remote island in the Indian Ocean, which is off-limits by law. Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov was arrested by Indian police after he was spotted by a fisherman while returning from the island. The police said that he successfully visited the island but was unable to make contact with the tribe. Polyakov claimed that he left them soft drinks, but the authorities have not found them so far. Investigators also said that Polyakov called himself a thrill-seeker and that he had visited the area twice before.
North Sentinel Island, part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is a forbidden island inhabited by a reclusive Sentinelese tribe that has rejected any outside contact. The Indian government prohibits visiting the island or establishing any contact with the tribe because the indigenous group lacks immunity to modern illnesses, which could wipe them out. They also do not want to be contacted. In 2018, an American missionary was killed by the tribe when he arrived on the island to convert them to Christianity.
Survival International spokesperson Jonathan Mazower told the BBC that social media influencers are adding to the threats faced by uncontacted tribal people. “As well as all the somewhat more established threats to such peoples—from things like logging and mining in the Amazon, where most uncontacted peoples live—there are now an increasing number of…influencers who are trying to do this kind of thing for followers.”
Continue Reading Article After Our Video
Recommended Fodor’s Video
NO.2
IMMIGRATION OFFICER QUESTIONS HUGH GRANT’S KIDS
Hugh Grant called a recent incident at London’s Heathrow creepy and intrusive. The 64-year-old actor was traveling with his wife, Anna Eberstein, and their three kids, aged 12, 9, and 6. On X, he criticized the immigration officer who whispered to his kids, asking if Grant and Eberstein were their parents.
The U.K. government explains on its website that the Border Force has a duty to protect vulnerable children and may seek to establish the relationship between children and those traveling with them. “If you are traveling with a child (under 18) and are not the child’s parent, or may appear not to be the parent (for example, if you have a different family name), we may ask you a few questions to establish your relationship with the child. We will always do this as quickly as possible and in a way that is sensitive to the interests of the child and the adult involved.”
Grant was not happy with how this was handled and described it as intrusive, insulting, and creepy.
NO.3
RYANAIR PASSENGER GETS ESCORTED OFF FLIGHT BY POLICE
A Ryanair passenger was escorted off a flight by police after she couldn’t pay for snacks she bought on board. Ann-Marie Murray was returning from Tenerife to Bristol with her partner and ordered Pringles, water, and a Coke on the flight. She tried to pay the £7 bill ($8.90) using her card, but the card machine on the flight failed. The couple did not have any cash on them and offered to withdraw cash from an ATM upon landing, but the crew refused. They called the police, who escorted the couple upon landing. Murray told The Mirror, “I was shocked when the police came onboard and we were asked to leave. It was so embarrassing. I had done everything I could to resolve it.”
According to Murray, the officers laughed over the incident and were lovely. They took her to withdraw cash to pay the bill.
Ryanair, which has taken a strong stand against disruptive passengers recently, commented on the incident: “During this flight, this passenger attempted to purchase food onboard; however, the card did not process payment. As crew looked to resolve the payment issue, this passenger proceeded to ignore crew instructions, consume the items prior to payment, and subsequently became disruptive. The aircraft was met by local police upon arrival at Bristol Airport, and this passenger was removed.”
Murray denied the claim of being disruptive and said she wouldn’t travel with the airline again.
Related: Can Airlines Sue You if You Behave Badly?
NO.4
AMERICAN TOURIST BRINGS HANDGUN TO JAPAN
An American tourist was arrested for bringing a handgun and three bullets to Japan. Alan Randy Peterson, 73, and his wife flew from Hawaii to Kansai International Airport in Osaka, and boarded a ship at the Kobe Port terminal the following day. Peterson reported to the ship staff that he had accidentally brought a handgun with him, and a representative of the ship contacted the police. He also admitted that he threw away three bullets at the port terminal, which were later found in a trash can. He was arrested for possession of the gun and bullets under Japan’s strict gun laws.
NO.5
CANADIAN GOVERNMENT WARNS CITIZENS THAT U.S. CAN CHECK PHONES AND LAPTOPS
In a revised advisory, the Canadian government has warned its citizens that U.S. immigration officers can search electronic devices, including phones and laptops. “They don’t need to provide a reason when requesting a password to open your device. If you refuse, they may seize your device. The border agent could also delay your travel or deny entry if you are not a U.S. citizen.”
The advisory also states, “Before crossing the border, put your device in airplane mode to ensure remote files don’t get downloaded accidentally.”
Related: A Running List of Countries Issuing U.S. Travel Advisories
