AP Report Uncovers Intrusion At MSP Last Year

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – More than a year after it happened, details of an intrusion at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport are being released.

According to an Associated Press investigation, which uncovered the security breach, a man with a knife jumped the fence in February of last year. A report of the intrusion said the man told authorities he went for a walk from a nearby hotel to avoid a fight with his girlfriend. Airport officials did not reveal the breach when the AP first asked.

Last year, airport officials acknowledged 10 intrusions since 2004. Federal records showed the 11th breach.

An apologetic airport spokesman said a records search missed the incident.

Airports say their perimeters are strong and note no breach involved a known terrorist plot.

Nationally, breaches happen about every 10 days at one of the 31 major airports AP studied.