A nine-year-old boy used stolen plane tickets to wing his way across America — a day after leading police on a 150km/h car chase.
Criminal prodigy Semaj Booker was apprehended while attempting to board a flight to his former home town of Dallas after flying from Seattle in the US north-west to San Antonio in the south.
"This is a highly unusual situation that is still being investigated," a Southwest Airlines spokesman told CNN.
Booker had already changed flights once and on both occasions was not asked for ID while boarding the planes using somebody else's name and boarding pass.
The airline said children do not need ID if in possession of a boarding pass, but it is not clear how he knew what name to use to secure the ticket or how he was able to do so.
His mother Sakinah believes her son "needs a male role model, and he's seeking it" by trying to get back to Dallas to reunite with his grandfather.
"I didn't give him any help to get on a plane, I didn't give him any money to get on a plane," she said.
But it appears Semaj is able to help himself: the fourth-grader stole a car in the Washington State suburb of Tacoma the previous day and led police on a high-speed pursuit, with speeds reaching 150km/h.
"By the South Hill Mall, he lost control and the car started on fire," Lieutenant David Guttu of Washington Police said.
Booker he has been charged with car theft and evading police, and may face more charges after his aerial exploits.
His mother concedes that her enterprising son needs a new approach. "We already got a plan… he's going to stay with my sister in Illinois," she says.
However, local prosecutors say that a proposed family move back to Texas may be the best solution for all parties.
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