An employee at Alaska Airport has been accused of secretly attaching GPS trackers to coworkers’ personal vehicles, allowing him to monitor their movements outside of work—this alleged scheme dates back to 2020.
Dustin Madden, a 40-year-old airport operations specialist at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, was arrested after several colleagues complained about discovering a tracker in a vehicle parked on-site.
After the reports, Madden was placed on administrative leave and charged with four misdemeanors related to stalking and one felony for tampering with evidence.
According to the Department of Transportation, Madden was hired at the airport on September 30, 2020. Reports indicate he had begun his stalking behavior fairly early into his employment, with incidents occurring in 2022, two in 2024, and two more in July of this year.
Authorities believe that there may be additional victims yet to be identified. They advise that if anyone finds a suspicious device in their vehicle, they should avoid handling it and contact law enforcement right away, as it may serve as critical evidence.
“Anchorage International Airport is dedicated to maintaining a safe and respectful workplace. We do not tolerate any form of surveillance, threats, or harassment. We are reviewing our security and privacy protocols to strengthen protections for both staff and visitors,” the airport stated.
Madden also works as a game day promoter for the University of Alaska, according to his LinkedIn profile. He attended university from 2003 to 2013, earning a bachelor’s degree in aviation and airway management and operations while previously employed at Northern Air Cargo.
He is currently held at the Anchorage Correction Complex and is due in court on August 26.
Sadly, Alaska Airport isn’t the only one to face issues with staff misconduct. Spirit Airlines’ gate agents recently went viral for losing their cool and expressing their frustration to passengers during prolonged flight delays.
In Australia, a video surfaced of airline staff carelessly tossing luggage onto a conveyor belt after a chaotic day, highlighting that such issues can occur in any corner of the aviation industry.
