A trespasser managed to breach security and access a runway at Chicago Midway, where he attempted to climb onto the wing of a private jet. The man hopped over a barbed-wire fence before being arrested approximately 15 minutes later.

Intoxicated man climbs fence into Chicago Midway

Chicago police have arrested an unidentified man, aged 33, after he climbed over a barbed-wire fence and ran onto a runway at Midway International Airport.

Charges are pending against the trespasser, who was seen running around the apron before attempting to stop a private jet and climb onto its wing.

Joseph Schwieterman, a DePaul University aviation expert, told ABC Chicago,

"I think we're seeing how easy it is for somebody to scale a fence and get into a secure area. Every year we have new threats to our airline system, and somebody getting inside a secure area without a great deal of difficulty. It does suggest that new kinds of fencing may have to be looked at."

Southwest-Airlines-Increased-Overtime-Pay
The trespasser attempted to access a private jet that had just been cleared for takeoff. Photo: Chicago Midway Airport

Police said the man climbed over a barbed-wire fence near 55th Street and Lorel Avenue. During the climb, his shirt and jacket got caught on the fencing, causing the suspect to allegedly strip naked.

According to CBS News, the pilot reportedly told air traffic control,

"This guy is stripping butt-naked right now. He's right here at the front of the jet. He's trying to get in."

Police apprehended the man at 16:45 near runway 31. Police, Fire Department crews, and at least one K-9 unit were active on the scene.

Witnesses claim the man appeared to be intoxicated. He was transported to Loyola Medicine MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn for minor injuries and a mental health evaluation.

No significant disruption

Fortunately, the trespasser did not cause any major disruption at Chicago Midway, with no reports of ground stops or flight delays from the Chicago Department of Aviation.

Schwieterman added,

"In this case it appears the airport didn't have a lot of operational disruption, but, boy, it's a wakeup call that one individual could potentially bring down a transportation network."

Similar incidents

According to Chicago police, this is the second time in six months that an individual has managed to gain unauthorized access to Chicago Midway after another incident in September 2021.

Professor Robert Eric Jones, Lewis University College of Aviation, Science and Technology Associate Dean, said,

"You look for trends. If this happens once or twice or three times and then you think there might be an area of security you might want to bolster up. But the security apparatus that they have in place at Midway did actually work. And there wasn't any significant harm."

Another incident at Southwest Florida International Airport on Saturday involved a woman crashing her vehicle through a secured gate.

According to Florida police, 42-year-old Alejandra Campuzano crashed through a gate, sped across an active runway and endangered the lives of hundreds of people on an incoming aircraft.

Did you witness this incident at Midway International Airport? Have you ever experienced a similar incident before? Let us know in the comments.

Source: ABC Chicago, CBS News