Police have arrested a man who sneaked through a vehicle entrance at Van Nuys Airport and boarded a jet, where he hung out smoking a cigarette.

Employees discovered the 25-year-old transient Thursday afternoon on a Gulfstream G4 at the airport, which serves noncommercial flights.

Los Angeles Airport Police said he hid behind a vehicle entering the airfield and made it to a hangar, then boarded the plane. When confronted, he put out the cigarette, causing about $5,000 in interior damage.

He was arrested on suspicion of trespassing and vandalism.


The airport has seen several other intrusions in recent months, including an incident in which taggers spray-painted three jets. An Associated Press investigation showed that, nationally, people get past airport perimeter security more often than authorities publicly acknowledge.

ALSO

Deer roams onto beach, interrupting surfing team tryouts

Victims identified after fatal fire at adult-care facility in Temecula


Twenty children and 20 dogs removed from ‘uninhabitable’ home; 5 women arrested