Air traffic control at Orange County’s John Wayne Airport called it a “high speed chase on the taxiway” on Monday afternoon around 1:15 p.m.
A contract security guard in a white sedan suddenly raced between taxiing jets and ramp workers, forcing planes to hit the brakes. Video posted to social media shows a white sedan racing down a taxiway, threading between taxiing jets and ramp workers. The driver was assigned to an airfield security checkpoint – someone who already had airside access and should have been trained on driving rules around the movement area.
A ramp employee reports he and others were yelling, throwing the “X” with wands and trying to get the crew to stand on the brakes. He says the car came very close to an aircraft’s nose gear and might have collapsed the front end of the plane if it hadn’t stopped.
BREAKING #OrangeCounty / #California
Dramatic Video from Monday afternoon shows a car speeding down the tarmac at John Wayne Airport almost colliding with airplanes and airport workers. The driver eventually stopped and was detained by OCSD deputies. The driver was… pic.twitter.com/baxQZcbTH4
— OC Scanner (@OC_Scanner) December 10, 2025
Deputies from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department detained the man on the field, and the airport continued its operations without disruption.
An American Airlines crew apparently first called in the rogue car, and you can hear the controller warn a Southwest flight arriving from Denver and freeze traffic on the ground.
Southwest 1057 hold position, there’s a high-speed chase on the taxiway.
A sedan moving at road speed on an active taxiway has almost no hope of stopping before hitting a taxiing jet if the pilot doesn’t see it in time. Taxiways often have people on foot, belt loaders, tugs, and other vehicles in tight quarters around wingtips and engines. That’s why airports require special airfield driver training, testing, and endorsements on ID badges for anyone who drives on the ramps.
If he’s white, Trump will pardon him. If he’s any other color or ethnic and can’t afford to pay the grift, Trump will deport whether he’s a citizen or not. Yes, I know this comment won’t appear on this website.
Well given the number of carjackings and “KIA boys” this isn’t surprising. Said offender will get no bail and the DA/Judge will throw probation at the offender. Just to do something like this again. Rinse and repeat. And yes I will be called a racist, homophobe, trans hater you name it for suggesting this person spend a few years in prison.
mental health meltdown
This is a massive violation of fundamental rules that must be followed within the movement area. Speed limits in such areas are as low as 5 mph and never higher than 15 mph. Furthermore, this individual strayed from the marked roadway and that’s just from what I see in watching the video snippets. To obtain a SIDA badge that allows you to drive in these restricted areas, you have to successfully complete training, which is repeated annually.
Put in simplest terms:: airports are the ultimate FAFO zone; there are no exceptions and the cops don’t care who you’re friends with. And, unlike most workplaces, straying from rules can easily get you fired and arrested. As this person should have known beforehand.
@Tony: maybe you’d better visit a doctor for some meds to deal with the serious case of TDS you have there. It seems to be consuming your life.
Reminds me of a less interesting version of the Richard “Sky King” Russell incident (2018). Clearly, a “a few screws loose” here, too.
@Tony — LOL. Feel that way, but, no, should be prosecuted to the full extend of the law, regardless of background.
@stogieguy7 — And it seems you have T. Devotion Syndrome, sir. Gotta defend Daddy, huh.
@1990: I’m not the one who posts out of context comments about Trump on stories that have zero to do with Trump. That’s serious Trump Derangement Syndrome. You seem sensitive too, perhaps you should get check as well.
I’m not Trump undying fan (some of them are really out there) but again the TDS and the mental illness shines bright. I’ve seen too many videos cops have to chase someone that puts lives in danger, thug assaults the cops and resists even at the jail and at the end small or no bail and probation. Thugs of both colors BTW.