Serial Stowaway Kicked Off Jet After Telling Passengers 'We're in a War'

One might assume a person obsessed with trying to sneak into airports would either have nefarious intent or suffer a mental ailment.

Neither seems to apply to Marilyn Hartman, the so-called Serial Stowaway who repeatedly, almost comically, perhaps tragically, has been sneaking into airports in Chicago and elsewhere. After spending seven weeks behind bars for one such episode, Hartman immediately went to Midway Airport after her release from the county lockup, bought a ticket, introduced herself to airport cops as “a celebrity,” received a police escort to her gate, and then allegedly caused a disturbance inside a plane.

While aboard a Southwest Airlines jet, she declared we’re “in a war” and told her fellow passengers she didn’t feel safe because she lacked a helmet, according to prosecutors. The pilot returned to the gate, where she was arrested.

The very next day, the 63-year-old woman was arrested after police spotted her wandering around O’Hare Airport terminals.

Her inexplicable antics have frustrated judges, police and prosecutors.

Yet Hartman’s court-ordered psychiatric evaluation, obtained by NBC Chicago, suggests she’s not mentally ill.

“Currently she does not manifest any active symptoms or signs of a mental illness,” Dr. Matthew Markos wrote on June 17. “She is cognizant of the charge, understands the nature and purpose of the court proceedings, and shows the ability to cooperate with counsel in her defense.”

She’s certified as “mentally fit with medication.”

Consequently, she will stand trial on the latest charges. Hartman appeared before a Cook County judge Thursday morning.

“Chances are you’re going to go to jail,” Judge William Raines told her. “We’ve done everything we can to keep you out of jail, but what recourse do we have?”

Raines set bail at $100,000 on criminal trespass and violation of bond charges.

Hartman has tried many times in recent years to board flights at various airports in Chicago and elsewhere without a ticket. She’s been arrested in Los Angeles and Phoenix, too. In April and May, she tried to get through security five times at O’Hare and Midway.

She once flew from San Jose to L.A. aboard a Southwest Airlines flight by sneaking past TSA agents occupied with a family’s papers. She then got past the airline staff and onto the plane. She also flew on a Minnesota-to-Florida flight without a ticket. She’s claimed there are other attempts in which she’s gotten caught in the past and then let go.

A prosecutor told reporters after Thursday’s hearing that the system has tried to keep Hartman out of jail.

“I’m not exactly sure what her issues are, or what’s driving her behavior, but she has been offered a lot of help,” Assistant State’s Attorney Jennifer Coleman said. “One of the judges offered to have her released on electronic monitoring. That very same day the sheriff’s office identified a place for her to go. She refused to go. They identified a residential treatment facility for her to go to after she was released from custody and she refused to go.”