(This story was updated with a new photo and new information.)
An intoxicated man rammed his Ford Mustang through a gate at Daytona Beach International Airport March 25, drove onto a taxiway and nearly crashed into an Embry-Riddle plane that was taxiing before he jumped out of the car and tried to get into the plane, according to the Volusia Sheriff’s Office.
The driver, Bryan J. Parker, 58, of Holly Hill, indicated he was intoxicated on alcohol and drugs and couldn’t remember what led to the incident that began about 4:25 p.m. when he crashed into the gate and drove toward the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University area of the airport.
Man tried to enter running plane at Daytona International Airport
Parker was unable to get into the Embry-Riddle plane on the taxiway. But he was undeterred. He then ran to other airplanes. An airport operations technician chased after him and pulled him out of an airplane. The technician had Parker sit on a truck’s tailgate. But Parker bolted and made a run for another airplane before he was once again caught and placed in handcuffs.
The Volusia Sheriff’s Office Domestic Security Unit and the FBI are on scene and the man is in custody and being interviewed. He faces multiple charges.
Airport operations are continuing without interruption as the investigation continues.
2 pilots killed at LaGuardia when plane collides with firetruck
The gate crashing driver at Daytona International Airport comes only days after a fatal crash at LaGuardia airport in New York involving a fire truck and a regional jet.
Two pilots were killed and dozens of people were injured aboard an Air Canada Express jet when the fire truck drove onto a runway at LaGuardia on March 22 as the jet was landing. The plane was carrying 72 passengers and four crew members while the fire truck was occupied by two firefighters.
TSA absences lead to long waits at some airports
The incident at Daytona Beach International Airport adds to the stress in the nation’s air travel system, which is already seeing long passenger lines at some airports as TSA officer absences increase and workers remain unpaid during the ongoing partial-government shutdown. So far, TSA has lost more than 480 officers across the nation, according to a USA TODAY story.
ICE agents have been sent to some airports
But long waits did not seem to be a problem at Daytona Beach International Airport, which had estimated TSA security time of 0-15 minutes at noon March 25.
Check back for updates on this developing story.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Intoxicated man drives onto Daytona Beach airport field
Reporting by Frank Fernandez, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
