Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Stolen truck intercepted on airport runway

WINNIPEG police have laid a trio of charges against a Montreal man who drove a stolen pickup truck onto a runway at Richardson International Airport early Wednesday morning.

A police investigation revealed the suspect drove the 2009 Ford F150 towards a Beechcraft King Aircraft, which was departing with cargo and three passengers, around 5:15 a.m. The plane completed its takeoff without incident while the man continued to drive the truck behind the airborne plane.

Airport security then appeared on the scene, stopped the vehicle, which was registered to the Department of National Defence, and apprehended the suspect.

Christine Alongi, spokeswoman for the Winnipeg Airports Authority, said an Air Canada plane carrying more than 100 passengers lifted off just minutes previously on its way to Toronto. There was no other aircraft movement for nearly three hours afterwards, she said.

She said NAV Canada, which is responsible for the air and ground movement on the airfield, would have redirected aircraft if it detected any danger.

"There was never any danger to the passengers on either of those flights," she said.

The 22-year-old, who has been detained at the Winnipeg Remand Centre, faces charges of theft over $5,000, damaging or interfering with a navigation facility and mischief endangering life.

 

-- Staff

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 3, 2010 B2

The Winnipeg Free Press is not accepting comments on this story.

Follow

  1. WFP Hockey

    Download our new hockey app for the iPhone for Winnipeg Jets updates

  2. Editor's Bulletin

    Sign up for daily bulletins from editor Margo Goodhand

  3. Winnipeg Jets

    All things NHL on our Jets landing page

  4. Twitter

    Follow our reporters and our news feeds on Twitter

  5. News Cafe

    Check out the menu, read our blog posts or get info on coming events

  6. Facebook Fanpage

    Follow our Facebook Fanpage for story links, contests and special events

letters

Make text: Larger | Smaller

Poll

Should infants be allowed in the House of Commons?

View Results

View Related Story