Airport runway intruder prompts security review

Oct 1 2007 EXCLUSIVE by Caroline Innes, Liverpool Daily Post

AN URGENT review of security has been launched at Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport after a man walked on to the runway and boarded an empty plane.

It is understood the incident took place at 6am on Saturday and involved an empty Thomsonfly aircraft which was about to take off for Spain.

Conflicting reports have emerged about the incident, with one source telling the Daily Post that the man had to be subdued on the plane by airline staff.

But JLA said the man was already being chased by airport security.

A source close to the incident said: “It was very frightening and the crew were really shaken up. The plane was empty as it was going out to Spain to bring back passengers, and this man was just seen sat at the back with a bag.

“The purser had to hold him down while the pilot radioed for assistance.

“Airport police were there within seconds and the plane was searched before take-off to make sure nothing untoward had been left on board.

“What is worrying is that, if the plane had had passengers on board, he may never have been discovered.

“Thankfully, there was nothing sinister in his bag, but it is scary to think what could have happened.”

One source told the Daily Post that the man was found by Thomsonfly staff on board the plane.

But JLA spokesman Robin Tudor said the man had not boarded the plane unchallenged.

He said: “This is a breach of security, but reports that this man was able to board an aircraft unchallenged are inaccurate.

“He actually broke through a control point, an area of the airport where vehicles are able to access the airfield through a barrier.

“It is security controlled and all vehicles have to be cleared and checked by guards before they are given access. Security staff saw him go through this and gave chase.

“Directly opposite was the Thomsonfly aircraft and he ran on to the plane where he was apprehended.

“We called Merseyside Police and he was arrested for breaking aviation security law.

“This is not a security risk.

“We have told the Department of Transport. There will be an internal investigation, but the Department of Transport are not looking to take this matter any further.”

The Home Office say the terror threat in the UK is currently “severe” – the second highest threat – meaning a terrorist attack is highly likely.

Riverside MP Louise Ellman said the incident would concern the thousands of passengers who use JLA every day.

She said: “This incident is of great concern. There must now be an urgent and full inquiry into how this was able to happen.

“Lessons must be learnt.”

It is not the first time that JLA has been at the centre of a security alert this year.

On June 30, thousands of holidaymakers had travel plans thrown into disarray when JLA was closed after a “suspicious vehicle” was discovered.

Police ordered the shutdown of the airport at 8.30pm – hours after a blazing Jeep had ploughed into Glasgow Airport.

Passengers inside the terminal were taken to sports centres for the night, as were passengers who had just landed when the security alert was announced.

* POLICE have confirmed that Waldemar Rejowski, 47, of no fixed address, who is not from Merseyside, has been charged under the Aviation Security Act and will appear before magistrates today.

carolineinnes@dailypost.co.uk