Showing a remarkable degree of optimism as evidenced by the boarding card he held in his hand, a 73 year-old Asian-American man approached a gate agent today expecting to be allowed to fly to his destination.

Despite wearing yoga pants for comfort and carrying a boxed cheesecake, the man amazingly believed he would be both allowed to board the plane, and stay on board for the duration of the flight.

He reportedly claimed to be confident he could fly because he had researched all the rules beforehand, according to onlookers who were already regarding him with pity.

The man even appeared to give a victory cheer when he was allowed onto the jetway, seemingly unaware that was the first step in his violent ejection.