Joyride on Tarmac: Man Steals Airport Tug, Crashes Vehicle
WHO:
CNN - The individual involved is Jay Barr, 26 years old.
CNN - Delta Air Lines is the airline the passenger was scheduled to fly with.
CNN - Alaska Airlines and American Airlines are mentioned as the companies whose vehicles were involved.
WHAT:
CNN - Airport crews inspected the man’s route down a taxiway between gates 7 and 12 for any debris or other hazards after the incident.
CNN - Delta Air Lines stated, “Delta has zero tolerance for unlawful behavior, and we take all incidents seriously.”
CNN - The airport serves more than 11 million passengers a year and has flights to 50 destinations.
CNN - Jay Barr stole an Alaska Airlines tug and crashed it into another vehicle.
CNN - Barr attempted to steal a lavatory service truck belonging to American Airlines.
CNN - Barr was arrested on charges of vehicle theft, trespassing, and vandalism.
WHERE:
CNN - The incident occurred at John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California.
CNN - The specific locations mentioned include gate 12 and gate 7 at the airport.
WHEN:
CNN - The incident took place around 5:30 p.m. PT on a Tuesday night.
WHY:
CNN - The incident was described as a security breach at the airport.
HOW:
CNN - Barr slipped through a restricted door at gate 12 to access the tarmac.
CNN - An air traffic controller informed pilots of a security breach and the shutdown of operations due to the stolen tug.
(UPDATED October 8, 2026 01:34 UTC)
Airport crews are currently inspecting the taxiway between gates 7 and 12 for any debris or hazards following an incident involving a passenger. Delta Air Lines has emphasized their commitment to safety, stating, “Delta has zero tolerance for unlawful behavior, and we take all incidents seriously.” This airport, which serves over 11 million passengers annually, offers flights to 50 different destinations.
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(UPDATED October 7, 2026 19:10 UTC)
A 26-year-old man named Jay Barr was arrested after stealing an Alaska Airlines tug and crashing it into another vehicle at John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California. Barr also attempted to steal a lavatory service truck belonging to American Airlines and was charged with vehicle theft, trespassing, and vandalism following the incident, which occurred around 5:30 p.m. PT on a Tuesday night. The situation prompted an air traffic controller to alert pilots about a security breach, leading to the shutdown of operations at the airport.