A man was jailed over the weekend after climbing onto the wing of an Alaska Airlines flight that was preparing for takeoff from Las Vegas McCarran International Airport, according to several reports.
The incident happened about 1:30 p.m. Saturday aboard flight 1367 to Portland. The man was reportedly on the wing for 45 minutes before authorities showed up and placed 41-year-old Alejandro Carlson under arrest, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department confirmed.
Reports said a pilot first spotted Carlson on the tarmac running up to the plane as it taxied toward the runway and called the control tower for help, ABC News reported.
Police said the man may have jumped a fence at the airport, but it wasn’t clear how he managed to access the wing of the moving plane.
Moments later, U.S. Air Marshals boarded the plane and told passengers to remain seated as they tried to apprehend the suspect.
Deputies used the emergency exits to get onto the wing to make the arrest.
As Carlson stepped onto the edge of the wing, however, he slipped and fell hard on the tarmac and had to be treated for minor injuries at University Medical Center, reports said.
He was later booked into the Clark County Jail and charged with trespassing and disregard for public safety.
Alaska Airlines later released a statement, saying the aircraft “was preparing for take-off when the pilot noticed an individual advancing towards the aircraft. The pilots notified the tower. Law enforcement was dispatched and [was] able to apprehend the individual.”
“Our guests and employees are safe and we are working with law enforcement. The plane returned to the gate for a full inspection,” Alaska Airlines said in the statement.
Several passengers aboard the flight were stunned at the sight of the man and recorded cellphone video as he walked casually onto the wing, where he sat down and took off his shoes and socks.
“WTH did I just witness?” said passenger Erin Evans, who posted a video of the moment on Twitter. She later described the incident to ABC News as “definitely one of the strangest things I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Because of the security breach, the FBI also responded but later determined it to be a matter for the local police.
An investigation is continuing.
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