Florida Airport Placed on Lockdown Following Security Breach

Florida Airport Placed on Lockdown Following Security Breach

The airport was placed on lockdown until about 7 a.m. All flights at the airport were suspended for about five hours, and two flights were delayed during the lockdown.

  • By Jessica Davis
  • Sep 21, 2018

Orlando Melbourne International Airport in Melbourne, Fla., was placed on lockdown early Thursday after an overnight incident where a suspect allegedly hopped a fence, entered a maintenance hangar and boarded a vacant American Airlines Airbus. The investigation is being overseen by the Joint Terrorism Task Force.

The suspect, a 22-year-old student pilot, was tackled by two airport employees as he entered the plane’s cockpit at about 2 a.m., according to authorities. One man held the suspect down while the other called the Melbourne Airport Police, said Lori Booker, spokeswoman for the aiport.

"There was a security breach," Booker said. "Our airport police department responded within two minutes."

The student pilot broke free and ran along the airfield before being taken into custody by two police officers. The man has been charged with a criminal attempt to steal an airplane, as well as a visa violation and criminal trespassing.

The airport was placed on lockdown until about 7 a.m. All flights at the airport were suspended for about five hours, and two flights were delayed during the lockdown.

According to Booker, security training helped officers and staff respond to the breach.

The investigation is being handled by the FBI, one of the members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force. Authorities are working to determine a motive and whether the incident was isolated, Booker said.

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Gaining a Competitive Edge

    Ask most companies about their future technology plans and the answers will most likely include AI. Then ask how they plan to deploy it, and that is where the responses may start to vary. Every company has unique surveillance requirements that are based on market focus, scale, scope, risk tolerance, geographic area and, of course, budget. Those factors all play a role in deciding how to configure a surveillance system, and how to effectively implement technologies like AI. Read Now

  • 6 Ways Security Awareness Training Empowers Human Risk Management

    Organizations are realizing that their greatest vulnerability often comes from within – their own people. Human error remains a significant factor in cybersecurity breaches, making it imperative for organizations to address human risk effectively. As a result, security awareness training (SAT) has emerged as a cornerstone in this endeavor because it offers a multifaceted approach to managing human risk. Read Now

  • The Stage is Set

    The security industry spans the entire globe, with manufacturers, developers and suppliers on every continent (well, almost—sorry, Antarctica). That means when regulations pop up in one area, they often have a ripple effect that impacts the entire supply chain. Recent data privacy regulations like GDPR in Europe and CPRA in California made waves when they first went into effect, forcing businesses to change the way they approach data collection and storage to continue operating in those markets. Even highly specific regulations like the U.S.’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) can have international reverberations – and this growing volume of legislation has continued to affect global supply chains in a variety of different ways. Read Now

  • Access Control Technology

    As we move swiftly toward the end of 2024, the security industry is looking at the trends in play, what might be on the horizon, and how they will impact business opportunities and projections. Read Now

Most   Popular

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file. 3

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis. 3

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure. 3