I understand that he has a very thin presence... but this is the carrier for a very advanced wanzer, from a special ops team... besides an entirely supernatural reason, there is no explanation for why he is in that plane.
There is no way in hell he has clearance for that, it is inconceivable the military command would allow a journalist, freelancer or not, into one of their confidential planes, which that thing has to be... the type of armament that thing is carrying cant be standard issue in no way.