Traveler 'Stunned' She Could Go From U.S. to Italy Without Getting Stopped for an Expired Passport

Stepping up to the front of airport security, you hand over your ticket and passport. An agent reviews where you're going and the validity of your identification -- or so one would hope.

A California woman had a heart-stopping moment after she had already traveled to Europe from the U.S. and found her passport had expired. ABC News 10 reports Vicki Albright's passport was seen at the United Airlines ticket counter and by TSA agents in San Francisco. It was stamped in Frankfurt, Germany, too.

It wasn't until Albright was in Italy that she realized her documentation was expired:

"I quickly went to the US consulate where officials were clearly stunned I had gotten so far on an expired travel document, I said 'it's a mystery to me too,'" Albright said.

News 10 reports Albright being issued a valid passport in Italy before she returned to the United States.

Still, the incident concerns Albright.

"I'm just one traveler but you have to wonder who else is getting through?" she said.

News 10 reports the Department of Homeland Security saying it is investigating the incident.

Watch the report:

(H/T: The Consumerist)