A 58-year-old Florida man who allegedly drove his vehicle through a secured gate and onto the runway at Daytona Beach International Airport has been arrested. After reportedly barreling through the gates, the man attempted to board more than one plane on the runway before being taken away by authorities.
This incident unfolded around 4:25 p.m on March 25, when a blue Ford Mustang careened into a gate at the airport's international terminal and drove onto an active airfield. The driver, later identified as Bryan J. Parker of Holly Hill, Florida, was allegedly highly intoxicated at the time of the incident, according to People.
Further reports from the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office claim that Parker’s vehicle nearly struck a plane that was preparing for takeoff before abandoning the mustang and running towards another aircraft. He then decided to take additional steps to board another plane, as the first one he approached was already locked. This is when security was finally able to intervene.
Body-Cam footage released by deputies shows a chaotic scene from law enforcement’s perspective as they safely locate Parker on the runway and escort him from the scene without injury. Airport security kept the situation under control until law enforcement arrived on the scene.
Parker allegedly told the deputies who arrested him he had been using drugs and alcohol, and had no recollection of the events that led to his arrest. He was taken into custody on multiple charges, which could include attempted aircraft piracy, burglary of an unoccupied conveyance, felony trespass, and DUI‑related offenses, but this is all under investigation at this time and has not been fully confirmed.
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office stated that the quick response from on-site security helped prevent potential injuries, which have been seen numerous times in similar stories. Some trespassers have been sucked into aircraft engines, and Parker is lucky staff were able to get things under control prior to something like this happening.
