A 26-year-old Delta Air Lines passenger slipped through a secure door at California's John Wayne Airport on the evening of October 6, stole an airport tug on the tarmac, drove it across the airfield and crashed it — then tried to steal a second airline vehicle before airport police arrested him. The Orange County Sheriff's Department said he was arrested on charges of vehicle theft, trespassing and vandalism, and remains in custody.
The incident unfolded around 5:30 p.m. PT on Tuesday at John Wayne Airport in Orange County. Airport spokesperson AnnaSophia Servin told CNN the passenger, who had been scheduled to fly to Seattle, went out an access door at gate 12, walked down a set of stairs and entered the ramp — the restricted area where baggage, fuel, food and other service vehicles operate.
He climbed aboard a tug belonging to Alaska Airlines — a vehicle used to move luggage trailers or planes around the airfield — and drove it from around gate 12 toward gate 7, where he crashed into another vehicle. Marisa Unvert, the airport's communications manager, told the California Post the whole unauthorized ride lasted "probably about 10 minutes" before he was arrested.
After crashing the tug, he wasn't done. According to Servin, the passenger then attempted to steal a lavatory service truck belonging to American Airlines before airport police arrested him. The California Post reported he was taken to a hospital for evaluation afterward, and it was unclear whether he was intoxicated.
The suspect was identified as 26-year-old Jay Barr. CNN said it could not locate legal representation for him.
Planes on the tarmac were held in place during the incident. Audio recorded by the ATC.com app captured an air traffic controller telling waiting pilots: "There was a security breach at the airport. Looks like someone stole a tug so they pretty much shut down."
Airport crews then inspected the taxiway between gates 7 and 12 for debris or other hazards along the man's route, and planes quickly resumed moving around the airfield.
"Delta has zero tolerance for unlawful behavior, and we take all incidents seriously," the airline said in a statement. "Nothing is more important than the safety and security of our customers and people, and we are cooperating fully with law enforcement."
John Wayne Airport, in suburban Los Angeles, serves more than 11 million passengers a year with flights to 50 destinations. The airport has not said how the passenger got through the secure door into the restricted area, and the security review is expected to continue.