Delta passenger accused of stealing tug, crashing it on John Wayne Airport tarmac

A Delta Air Lines passenger waiting for a flight to Seattle allegedly left the terminal at John Wayne Airport on Tuesday evening, Oct. 6, took a tug used to move aircraft and drove it across the airfield before crashing it into another vehicle, officials say.

The incident began around 5:30 p.m. Airport police took the man into custody after he allegedly tried to take a second vehicle, an American Airlines lavatory service truck.

What officials say happened

Airport spokesperson AnnaSophia Servin confirmed to CNN that the man went out an access door at Gate 12. Once on the airfield, he allegedly took an Alaska Airlines tug and drove it to Gate 7, where it hit another vehicle. FOX 11 reported the tug belonged to ground-handling company Alliance Ground International and was assigned to Alaska Airlines.

Video obtained by FOX 11 appears to show the tug reversing close to a parked plane and then driving along the tarmac.

The man was taken to a local hospital for evaluation, according to ABC7. His motive is not known.

Who is charged

FOX 11 identified the passenger as Skyler Jay Barr, 26. CNN used the name Jay Barr. Seattle station KIRO 7, in a MyNorthwest report that did not name him, described the passenger as a 26-year-old man from Everett, Washington.

CNN reported that the Orange County Sheriff's Department said he faces counts of vehicle theft, trespassing and vandalism. FOX 11 reported he was charged Thursday, Oct. 8, with felony vehicle theft and vandalism and misdemeanor trespass at an airport security inspection. CNN reported he remained in custody and that it could not find an attorney for him.

Barr is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

Impact on flights

An air traffic controller told pilots there had been a security breach and said, "Looks like someone stole a tug," according to audio cited by CNN. Flights were briefly halted, then crews inspected the taxiway route between Gates 7 and 12 for debris and planes resumed moving.

ABC7 reported the Gate 7 area was closed for about 10 minutes and that no official ground stop was issued. Officials said the incident had no lasting effect on overall airport operations.

Delta said in a statement that it "has zero tolerance for unlawful behavior" and is cooperating fully with law enforcement. John Wayne Airport serves more than 11 million passengers a year, according to CNN.