Philly International: Civilians Driving on Runway ‘Very Rare'

A case like Thursday's, in which a man drove allegedly intoxicated all over the tarmac, is "very rare" officials say.

Philadelphia International Airport officials say the case of a man crashing his SUV through a fence and driving up and down the runway was “very rare” and the facility is secure.

An allegedly intoxicated man managed to drive a black Jeep Cherokee through a fence and onto the tarmac at Philadelphia International Airport Thursday morning.

The airport was closed nearly 30 minutes.

The driver was identified as 24-year-old Kenneth Richard Mazik of Chadds Ford, Pa. He is being charged with driving under the influence, risking a catastrophe, fleeing police, reckless endangerment, defiant trespass, assault on law enforcement and simple assault, police say.

Mazik rammed through a fence in his Jeep and sped onto two runways before being apprehended five minutes later.

Authorities stopped all inbound and outbound air traffic — about 15 to 20 planes — while police searched the Jeep for explosives. None were found, sources say.

Airport officials said Friday that perimeter fencing “meets or exceeds all federally mandated standards” and “our airfield is secure.”

A Transportation Security Administration spokeswoman says security protocols worked because the man was spotted, immediately pursued and arrested.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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