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newarksmells
8th Nov 2003, 04:37
Direct from 12news.com in Phoenix...

2 nabbed after car chase on Sky Harbor runway


Associated Press
Nov. 7, 2003 08:10 AM


Sky Harbor International Airport's north runway was closed for more than 20 minutes Thursday night while police chased two people who crashed a stolen car through a perimeter fence and got onto the airfield, an airport spokeswoman said.

A man and a 17-year-old boy were in police custody early Friday morning as a result of the chase that began about 10:40 p.m. Thursday in Guadalupe, said Sgt. Paul Chagolla, a Maricopa County Sheriff's Office spokesman.

The incident began when a sheriff's deputy spotted a stolen car in the Phoenix suburb and attempted to stop it, Chagolla said.

The car fled onto Interstate 10 and exited near the Phoenix airport, officials said.

Airport spokeswoman Jeanine L'Ecuyer said the car crashed through a fence just north of Terminal 3 and traveled onto the airfield.

At that point, Sky Harbor's north runway was closed, she said.

Sheriff's deputies and Phoenix police then chased the stolen 1999 Dodge Neon onto airport property, Chagolla said.

The car was traveling toward an America West Arilines aircraft hangar when it crashed into a second fence and the two occupants got out, Chagolla said.

The car's driver was caught after a chase on foot, but the passenger got into a sheriff's patrol car, which then was "disabled" by police, Chagolla said. He would not elaborate, but he said that the passenger was also caught after a brief chase.

Chagolla said Frank Alex Reyes, 18, and a teen boy have been taken into custody. Charges were still pending early Friday.

L'Ecuyer said it's unknown if the pair will face any charges for interfering with the airport's functions.

Although the airport's two other runways were operational during the incident, L'Ecuyer did not immediately know whether aircraft scheduled for the north runway were redirected or grounded.

Although she could not provide an exact number, L'Ecuyer said that because it was so late at night, there were few aircraft using the runway.

MidnightSpecial
8th Nov 2003, 06:13
Did you ever read 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas'? This incident reminds me of an hysterical scene in which the author's friend is late for his flight, they miss the exit, and drive through the fence, across the runway and up to the gate.

At least that's how Hunter S. Thompson remembers it so it must be true.

MS

FWA NATCA
10th Nov 2003, 06:17
We had a similar incident a few months ago, except it was a drunk driver who missed a curve and drove through the fence onto the airport, hung a right onto the main runway attempting to get away from the airport police.

What was unbelievable was that they left her car sitting on the runway for over an hour (which closed the airport) until a tow truck could tow it away.

Mike