Stranded jet skier breaches JFK's $100M security

JFK International Airport, seen via satellite image. / Google Earth

(CBS/AP) NEW YORK - A man on a jet ski who became stranded in Jamaica Bay easily breached JFK International Airport's $100 million security system, walking undetected across two runways and into a terminal.

Daniel Castillo, 31, swam to shore and then walked past motion sensors and closed-circuit cameras of the airport's state-of-the-art Perimeter Intrusion Detection System, according to the New York Post.

The man climbed an 8-foot-tall perimeter fence and made his way to Terminal 3.

He approached a Delta Airlines worker, who alerted authorities.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is investigating and said it has increased patrols on the ground and in the water.

The agency says it plans to meet with the security system's maker this week.

"We have called for an expedited review of the incident and a complete investigation to determine how Raytheon's perimeter intrusion detection system -- which exceeds federal requirements -- could be improved," the agency said in a statement. "Our goal is to keep the region's airports safe and secure at all times."

Castillo was charged with criminal trespass. According to the Post, he had been drinking with friends when several of them decided to race their jet skis. Castillo became separated from the group in the darkness, after which his jet ski became disabled. He swam three miles to shore.

[lesbacigalupi]

the sad part of all this is....this poor guy will get fully charged because he embarrassed the airport system. charges should be dropped to a warning and a thank you given for his discovery

[LBMonizRetiredJournalist]

About a year after 9-11 I took a tour along with a host of local and Union County law enforcement officials to view security of sensitive facilities along the Kill van Kull. We discovered that other than a few scattered cameras the sensitive facilities including chemical, pharmaceutical and fuel refineries were virtually unprotected from a seaborne attack. Even the highly explosive and massive underground propane facility was undefended from a waterborne attack. At one point our boat was challenged by a Coast Guard patrol boat escorting a propane tanker out of the area. In less than two minutes, the Coast Guardsmen had satisfied itself that our boatload of men in civilian clothing, but all wearing sidearms posed no threat. If we had posed a threat, we would have been undetected despite the heavily armed Coast Guard escort. Based on that incident I'm really glad I no longer live on the immediate coast as New York City, Uni0on and Middlesex Counties in New Jersey are openly vulnerable to attacks that could kill tens of thousands of people. I've kept the information to myself for a decade because I didn't want to give information beneficial to an enemy. However, since the jet skier incident has been made public, I felt it was now my responsibility to make the very real danger known.

[lorne46]

He was charged? Give him a free ticket to the Presidential Ball. Give the makers of the security system a court date.

[mooring7]

He should get a front row seat at the next state of the union address at get a standing ovation from the entire room,,,,,,

[nancy_naive]

"We have called for an expedited review of the incident and a complete investigation to determine how Raytheon's perimeter intrusion detection system -- which exceeds federal requirements -- could be improved..."

First, get rid of RatCo.

Raytheon -- an anagram of "Any Other"

[stupa5]

By a few German Shephards, Rotwieler & junk yard dogs to start with.

[baileycccc]

Let him walk, he did the world a favorite.

[formerlyluvnut]

Just too funny. Ya can't make this stuff up.

[hemusbull]

This guy must be paid immediately from the security firm as an tester-volunteer. Good job bro!

[bobnjersey]

["We have called for an expedited review of the incident and a complete investigation to determine how Raytheon's perimeter intrusion detection system -- which exceeds federal requirements -- could be improved,"]
-------------------------------------------
it exceeds federal requirements ... you want to see how it can be improved ... and some drunk guy just breached the system w/o you knowing he did that?

how about ask raytheon why it didn't detect what it's supposed to detect? and how about testing the system to know the weaknesses yourself.

[caljack430]

... he swam 3 miles in the dark and evaded a 'state of the art' security system? I'm sorry guys, but he doesn't sound too intoxicated to me. If he really was, then kudos good sir, you are one unique functioning drunk. Nice try JFK, but you're not fooling me with trying to blame alcohol on this guy stumbling through your fences and camera angles.