Delta Passenger Arrested After Allegedly Stealing Airport Tug

A Delta Air Lines passenger was arrested after allegedly walking onto the ramp at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California, taking an airport tug and crashing it. Airport police stopped him as he went after a second vehicle. No injuries were reported.

What Happened

The incident took place on Tuesday, October 6, according to various reports from new outlets. Officials said the man was a Delta passenger scheduled to fly to Seattle. He allegedly went through an access door at Gate 12 and onto the airfield. AeroTime, citing officials, described it as an emergency exit door that set off an alarm.

He then allegedly took a tug belonging to Alaska Airlines and drove it toward Gate 7, where he crashed into a utility cart. Officials said he then tried to take an American Airlines lavatory service truck before Airport Police Services stopped and arrested him.

Charges and Custody

Airport police took the man into custody, and he was taken to a hospital for evaluation. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department said he has been charged with vehicle theft, trespassing and vandalism. According to AeroTime, he remained in county jail as of October 7.

Authorities have not described a motive. The only reference to his condition in the reports is the hospital evaluation, and none of the coverage says whether he was experiencing a medical or mental health crisis.

Impact on Operations

The breach briefly disrupted activity at the airport. Air traffic controllers told waiting pilots about the stolen tug, and aircraft movements were halted for a short time. The area around Gate 7 was closed for about 10 minutes while crews inspected the taxiway between Gates 7 and 12 for debris and other hazards.

Airport officials said the incident had no impact on overall operations. 

Not the First Ramp Incident

Similar incidents have happened before. In December 2016, a passenger at Orlando International Airport who had been denied boarding on a United flight followed a cleaning employee into a service elevator without a security badge, got into a luggage tug and drove it about 2,000 feet before a firefighter jumped aboard and subdued him. 

That incident also caused no injuries, and airport officials said it did not delay flights, though it prompted a ground hold for nearby aircraft.

What Is Still Unknown

Several basic questions remain open in the reporting so far. Officials have not described in detail how the passenger moved from the terminal to the ramp or how he was able to operate the tug. Damage to the tug and the vehicle it hit has not been specified, and the coverage so far does not mention whether federal agencies are involved.

Authorities have not said whether the airport or its operators plan to change procedures at Gate 12.