California man lived in Chicago airport for 3 months, was 'too scared of COVID' to fly home: Prosecutors

CHICAGO (WGN) -- A man who was living inside O'Hare International Airport managed to escape detection for three months, according to prosecutors.

Aditya Singh, 36, is charged with felony criminal trespass to a restricted area of an airport and misdemeanor theft. Police said Singh claimed he was too afraid to fly home to California because of COVID-19.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Singh arrived at O'Hare from Los Angeles on Oct. 19 and lived in the airport's security zone since then.

Prosecutors say two United Airlines employees asked him for credentials this weekend. He allegedly showed a badge that an operations manager had reported missing back in October. The employees called 911, and Singh was taken into custody around 11:10 a.m. Saturday in Terminal 2.

Singh reportedly found the badge in the airport and was “scared to go home due to COVID,” the Tribune reports. Illinois Assistant State's Attorney Kathleen Hagerty told the judge other passengers were giving Singh food.

On Sunday, Cook County Judge Susana Ortiz ruled Singh could be released if he paid $1,000, but said he was prohibited from setting foot in the airport. As of Monday morning, Singh remained in the Cook County Jail.