An inebriated man from Florida is currently in police custody after reportedly crashing his car through an airport gate, driving onto the airfield, and trying to board a plane with passengers aboard, according to local authorities.
The incident took place at Daytona Beach International Airport around 4:30 p.m. on a Wednesday, following reports of a blue Ford Mustang breaching the airport’s international terminal gates. Witnesses saw the Mustang weaving through the airfield and nearly colliding with a plane.
The driver was identified as 58-year-old Brian Parker, who allegedly got out of his vehicle on the airfield and approached a moving plane before trying to enter. Authorities noted that Parker realized the plane was locked and briefly tried to access two additional vacant planes before being confronted by airport personnel and security from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Airport operations staff managed to pull Parker away from the plane and attempted to secure him on the tailgate of a truck. However, he managed to leap off and started running toward another aircraft before being apprehended once more.
Body camera footage captured Parker admitting to deputies that he was under the influence of alcohol and drugs, mentioning that he vaguely recalls the events leading up to the incident.
When questioned, Parker stated, “I don’t remember. I was at home. I went to an AA meeting and before I knew it, I was taking cocaine, drinking alcohol, and smoking marijuana.” When asked about running through the gate, he casually replied, “Yeah, I crashed my car.”
Following the event, Parker was taken into custody and faces several charges, including aircraft piracy, driving under the influence, two counts of indecency, criminal mischief, and burglary of an unoccupied conveyance. He is currently being held without bail in the Volusia County Jail.
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office has yet to provide further comments regarding the situation.
