Delta passenger steals airport tug and crashes it on tarmac at John Wayne Airport
In short
A Delta Air Lines passenger booked to fly to Seattle went out a terminal door at John Wayne Airport in Southern California on Tuesday evening, took an airport tug and drove it across the ramp, officials said. CNN and UPI reported he crashed the tug into another vehicle near gate 7 and then tried to take an American Airlines lavatory service truck before airport police arrested him. The Orange County Sheriff's Department identified him as Jay Barr, 26, arrested on charges of vehicle theft, trespassing and vandalism, CNN reported.
Read the full story 2 min read
A Delta Air Lines passenger stole an airport tug at John Wayne Airport in Southern California on Tuesday evening, drove it across the airfield and crashed it, according to airport officials quoted by CNN and UPI. The New York Times also reported the tug was crashed on the tarmac, citing the authorities. The man, who was scheduled to fly to Seattle, then tried to take an American Airlines lavatory service truck before airport police arrested him, CNN and UPI reported. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Airport spokesperson AnnaSophia Servin told CNN the man went out an access door at gate 12 around 5:30 p.m., took the tug and drove it to gate 7, where he crashed into another vehicle. The New York Post reported he walked out a door to the exterior of the terminal, went down a set of stairs and entered the ramp, an area restricted to authorized personnel. UPI reported the tug belonged to Alaska Airlines; other outlets did not name its owner. The New York Post said he did not get into the American Airlines vehicle before being taken into custody. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
The Orange County Sheriff's Department identified the man as Jay Barr, 26, and said he was arrested on charges of vehicle theft, trespassing and vandalism, CNN reported. He was taken to a hospital for evaluation, according to the New York Post and UPI. The New York Post said it was unclear whether he was intoxicated. CNN said he remained in custody and that it could not locate legal representation for him. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Air traffic control audio cited by CNN and UPI recorded a controller telling pilots there was a security breach and that someone had stolen a tug; in the version reported by UPI, the controller said a ground stop was put in effect. Crews inspected the man's route between gates 7 and 12 for debris, after which plane traffic resumed, CNN and UPI reported. Marisa Unvert, communications manager for the airport, told The California Post it was probably about 10 minutes until he was arrested, the New York Post reported. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
"Delta has zero tolerance for unlawful behavior, and we take all incidents seriously," the airline said in a statement, adding that it was cooperating fully with law enforcement. CNN said it had reached out to American Airlines for more information. [ 2 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The incident was described by an air traffic controller as a security breach, and airfield movement was halted while crews inspected the route for debris before planes resumed moving. It raises questions about how a passenger reached a restricted ramp area through a terminal door.
Key facts
- A passenger went out a terminal door near gate 12 at John Wayne Airport around 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday and entered the restricted ramp area. [ 1 , 2 ]
- He took an airport tug and drove it toward gate 7. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- CNN, UPI and The New York Times reported he crashed the tug; CNN and UPI said it hit another vehicle. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- He then tried to take an American Airlines vehicle, which CNN and UPI described as a lavatory service truck, before he was arrested. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The Orange County Sheriff's Department identified him as Jay Barr, 26, arrested on charges of vehicle theft, trespassing and vandalism, CNN reported. [ 2 ]
- The man was taken to a hospital for evaluation. [ 1 , 4 ]
- Delta said it has zero tolerance for unlawful behavior and is cooperating fully with law enforcement. [ 2 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A Delta Air Lines passenger booked on a flight to Seattle went onto the airfield at John Wayne Airport on Tuesday. [ 2 , 4 ]
- The passenger took an airport tug and drove it across the airfield. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The tug was crashed into another vehicle. [ 2 , 4 ]
- He tried to take an American Airlines lavatory service truck before being arrested. [ 2 , 4 ]
- He was taken to a hospital for evaluation. [ 1 , 4 ]
- The arrest was on charges of vehicle theft, trespassing and vandalism. [ 2 , 4 ]
- Plane traffic resumed after officials inspected his route for debris. [ 2 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the man was intoxicated. The New York Post said it was unclear whether he was intoxicated; no other outlet addressed it.
- Whether the tug crashed. CNN, UPI and The New York Times reported a crash, while the New York Post account does not mention one.
- Which company owned the tug. Only UPI said it was an Alaska Airlines tug.
- How long the incident lasted. Only the New York Post, citing an airport communications manager, put it at about 10 minutes until the arrest.
- The suspect's legal representation. CNN said it could not locate legal representation for him.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- The passenger goes out a terminal door near gate 12 onto the ramp and takes a tug. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The New York Post reports the arrest after the tarmac ride. [ 1 ]
- CNN reports the tug crash, the suspect's name and the charges. [ 2 ]
- The New York Times reports the passenger stole and crashed a tug. [ 3 ]
- UPI reports the incident, including air traffic control audio mentioning a ground stop. [ 4 ]