Crashed Through A Gate While An Airplane Was Landing

An man reported to be intoxicated and driving a Jeep Cherokee SUV managed to close Philadelphia International Airport (KPHL) for about 30 minutes Thursday when he rammed the vehicle through an airport gate.

Television station WPVI reports that the driver had parked near the gate, apparently waiting for an airplane to land. As it approached, he crashed through the gate into a restricted area.

A USA Today blog indicates that the man managed drive up and down two runways before he was apprehended. He was identified as Kenneth Richard Mazik of Chadds Ford, PA. The 24-year-old was followed by several police vehicles as he drove the length of one runway, then crossed over to a parallel runway before being stopped. Authorities said he appeared to be intoxicated when he was taken into custody. The entire incident lasted about five minutes.

The incident was responsible for ground stop and gate hold delays for airplanes arriving at or departing from KPHL for about 30 minutes "out of an abundance of caution," according to airport spokeswoman Victoria Lupica.

FMI: www.phl.org