Person crashes stolen tug before trying to steal lavatory truck at John Wayne Airport

Police at John Wayne Airport chased after a passenger who ran onto the airfield and stole a vehicle on Tuesday night.

An airport spokesperson said the ordeal began around 5:30 p.m., when a man was waiting in Terminal A for a Delta Air Lines flight to Seattle. The person, since identified as 26-year-old Skyler Barr, then went to Terminal B, opened an emergency exit door to get onto the tarmac and stole an Alaska Airlines tug vehicle used to tow jets. 

He then crashed into another car before trying to steal an American Airlines lavatory truck, but airport police were able to take him into custody before he could, according to the spokesperson.

Paramedics took the man to the hospital for injuries from the crash. 

Barr, an Everett, Washington resident, remained behind bars at the Orange County Jail on Wednesday on suspicion of trespassing, vehicle theft and vandalism, airport officials said.

The incident caused a brief delay in operations, but the airport returned to normal shortly after.