The following update was published Dec. 1, 2012 in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
CLARIFICATION: A Metro article quoted an Atlanta police report that said security guard Christopher Ellis yelled at an intruder who ran past his post at the cargo area of Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, but took "no further action". A subsequent Atlanta police report explained that "after yelling at the subject" Ellis "immediately informed FedEx Security" which followed up on the incident. An attorney for Ellis said it is against policy for Ellis to leave his post to pursue an intruder.
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is investigating a security breach last month involving a Kennesaw man who ran past a security guard in the airport cargo area and across two runways, according to officials.
The 19-year-old, Rayshawn Thames, had been spotted by Delta Air Lines tug drivers, and Delta reported it to police, according to a police report on the Aug. 22 incident. The tug operators “ lost sight of him in the rain which limited visibility,” the report said. All flights had been stopped due to heavy rain and wind, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Shortly after an alert was broadcast, Thames got into the passenger seat of an airport vehicle by Delta’s maintenance center “without being prompted to do so,” the report said. He was then taken to a police precinct. He was charged with failing to obey signs, fences and barricades on airport property and taken to Grady Detention Center to be held and mentally evaluated.
Thames had taken a cab from his home in Kennesaw to the airport perimeter and said he was supposed to catch a flight to Detroit, the police reported. However, he had no luggage or ticket.
He had entered the airport at the North cargo building, where AlliedBarton security guard Christopher Ellis was posted, according to the report. Ellis yelled for Thames to stop, but Thames kept running. Ellis took “no further action,” the report said.
AlliedBarton is a security contractor for FedEx. FedEx said it has enhanced security procedures and conducted more training.
Hartsfield-Jackson deputy general manager Balram Bheodari said this was the first such incident he is aware of in his 12 years at the airport. He said the airport has “layered security.”
Airport security programs including perimeter security are approved by the Transportation Security Administration, which is working with the airport on the investigation.
The FAA said it is investigating the incident as a possible runway incursion.
It follows an incident at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport last month in which a jet skier ran out of fuel, swam to the airport, climbed a fence and went across two runways to a terminal ramp before being spotted.
Police patrols were then added on JFK’s perimeter.
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