Florida man is arrested after stealing FedEx truck and driving along airport runway in a bid to get home
- Aaron Lennihan arrested for stealing a truck at Tallahassee International Airport
- He is accused of driving FedEx vehicle into a piece of plane guidance equipment
- The 23-year-old found the truck with the keys in it after jumping several fences
- Lennihan told police he was trying to get home but did not know where he was
Aaron Lennihan was arrested and charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle
A Florida man was arrested by police after allegedly stealing a FedEx truck and driving it onto the runway at Tallahassee International Airport.
Aaron Lennihan was said to have been trying to get home when he got into the vehicle and crashed into a major piece of plane guidance equipment that could see aircraft grounded for weeks.
The 23-year-old found the truck with the keys in it after jumping several fences and was trying to drive out of the airport, police said.
He struck a localizer, which is a system used to guide aircraft along the runway, especially in low visibility.
A Tallahassee Police officer looking out the window of the airport when he noticed the truck driving on the runway at about 1.30am on Monday, according to court records.
Court documents state Lennihan told TPD officers he was trying to get back home in Pasco County but did not know where he was or how he got to Tallahassee.
But he did tell officials he remembered climbing over fences until he saw the truck and as the keys were still inside jumped inside.
Tallahassee International Airport guidance system seen (above) after Lennihan allegedly crashed into it in a FedEx truck, causing damage that could see planes grounded for weeks
The airport guidance localizer pictured (above) before it was damaged. Aaron Lennihan is accused of stealing a truck and driving down the airport runway before crashing
Earlier in the night, TPD received a call from his mother that her son could not be found and that he was suffering from mental duress.
He was arrested on site and is charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle, according to WCTV.
Police said Lennihan did not appear to be drunk, under the influence of any substances, or otherwise impaired.
The FedEx truck was damaged but the shipping company reportedly declined to press charges.
Since the incident the FAA has instituted new guidelines to try and keep as many flights a possible still coming into the airport.
David Pollard, director of aviation at Tallahassee International Airport, said: ‘We are working with partners to identify how that happened. We have ordered an additional security assessment of that entire area to look at possibilities for strengthening our security.’