A passenger at John Wayne Airport was taken into custody Tuesday evening after running onto the airfield, stealing an airport tug and crashing it before attempting to take another service vehicle, according to airport officials.
The incident began at about 5:30 p.m. when the man, who had been waiting for a Delta Air Lines flight to Seattle, left the terminal and made his way onto the airfield.
Once there, he took an Alaska Airlines tug, a vehicle used to move and position aircraft on the ground. The situation quickly escalated when the tug crashed into another vehicle.
After the crash, the man reportedly moved toward an American Airlines lavatory service truck and attempted to take it. Airport police intervened before he could drive away with the second vehicle and placed him in custody.
Paramedics transported the man to a hospital for treatment of injuries he suffered in the crash. His identity and any potential charges had not been publicly released in the information available at the time of reporting.
The unusual incident briefly disrupted activity at the Orange County airport. Airport officials said operations returned to normal shortly afterward, limiting the impact on travelers and flights.
The episode also unfolded in an area of the airport normally restricted to authorized personnel and ground-service vehicles. Airport police responded after the passenger entered the airfield and took control of the tug.
Authorities are expected to determine what led the passenger to leave the terminal and enter the restricted area as the investigation continues.
