Man Arrested After Stealing Airport Tug for Tarmac Joyride
A Washington man allegedly stole an airplane tug at John Wayne Airport, leading authorities on a brief chase before being apprehended.
A man's joyride on the tarmac of John Wayne Airport came to an end Tuesday evening when he was arrested after allegedly stealing an airplane tug.
Skyler Jay Barr, 26, of Everett, Washington, was taken into custody on suspicion of vehicle theft, vandalism, and trespassing, according to Sgt. Gerard McCann of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. The incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. when Barr, reportedly awaiting a flight, accessed a restricted area of the airport.
Video footage captured Barr operating the tug vehicle across the tarmac, at one point maneuvering close to an Alaska Airlines plane. He reportedly drove the tug from near Gate 12 towards Gate 7 and entered the American Airlines section of the ramp. During his unauthorized excursion, Barr allegedly crashed into another vehicle and attempted to steal a lavatory truck, a specialized vehicle used for servicing aircraft lavatories.
The duration of the incident was approximately 10 minutes before Barr was apprehended. The airport ramp is an area restricted to passengers and reserved for authorized personnel who operate ground equipment and vehicles around aircraft.
Barr did not manage to enter the American Airlines vehicle he allegedly attempted to steal. He was transported to a hospital for evaluation and treatment of injuries sustained during the crash before being booked into jail. It is unclear if Barr was under the influence of any substances at the time of the incident.