A pre-dawn scare at Denver International Airport ended on a loading dock Monday after a driver smashed a vehicle through a locked security gate and into a secured apron area before officers stopped and arrested him, according to authorities. The crash left visible damage to both the gate and the suspect's car, and police later took the driver into custody. Officials have not released the person's name or any charges.
Police say the incident unfolded at about 2:15 a.m., when a driver pulled up to a secured gate, and a security officer initially responded. Moments after a Denver police officer arrived, the driver rammed through the locked gate, then continued onto a loading dock where officers apprehended him, according to Denver7. Authorities said the suspect caused an unknown amount of damage to the gate and his vehicle, and investigators have not offered any motive for why he entered the airport's secure area.
Second breach this month
It is the second reported trespassing incident at DIA this month. On May 8, a man who had scaled an airport perimeter fence was struck and killed by a departing Frontier Airlines flight; the Denver medical examiner later ruled the death a suicide, according to reporting by The Associated Press. That earlier collision prompted national scrutiny and a promised review of perimeter procedures.
Airport security under scrutiny
In the wake of the May 8 collision, airport CEO Phil Washington defended DIA's perimeter program and said the facility had received "perfect scores" on federal inspections even as sensors and staff missed the intrusion, per reporting by The Washington Post. Aviation experts have told national outlets the two incidents highlight how sprawling perimeters and remote terrain can complicate both detection and response.
Denver police say the investigation into Monday's breach is ongoing and have not released the suspect's identity or any charges, according to Denver7.
