Man arrested at Southern California airport after taking vehicle for tarmac joyride

A man waiting for his flight at John Wayne Airport allegedly slipped through a restricted door Tuesday evening, hopped onto an airport tug and drove the vehicle across the airfield toward the American Airlines gates.

The bizarre incident unfolded around 5:30 p.m., when the man walked out a door leading to the exterior of the airport, went down a set of stairs and entered the ramp — the restricted area where baggage, fuel, food and other service vehicles operate.

He then allegedly climbed aboard a tug and drove from around Gate 12 toward Gate 7, eventually reaching the American Airlines area and attempting to get into one of the airline’s vehicles.

The man walked out a door leading to the exterior of the airport, went down a set of stairs and entered the ramp — the restricted area where baggage, fuel, food and other service vehicles operate. AP

The unauthorized ride was over within minutes.

“Probably about 10 minutes to when he was arrested,” Marisa Unvert, communications manager for John Wayne Airport, told The California Post.

The unauthorized ride was over within minutes. GC Images

The man was arrested and taken to a hospital for evaluation. It was unclear whether he was intoxicated.

The ramp is restricted to authorized personnel, as airport operations and airline workers use the area to move vehicles and equipment around aircraft.

The suspect did not get into the American Airlines vehicle he attempted to access before he was taken into custody.

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