A woman dressed in black and pulling a roller bag went through a restricted door at President Donald J. Trump International Airport in West Palm Beach on Saturday, August 22.
She was seen walking toward a taxiway. Employees tried to stop her, but she started “running across the ramp” toward an active runway. Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested the woman. Her booking record lists ‘felony trespass in an airport operational area’ and misdemeanor ‘resisting or obstructing an officer without violence’.
The airport arrest came only two days after an incident at the Palm Beach County Courthouse. On Thursday, August 20, officials reportedly found a firearm in a black bag during courthouse X-ray screening. The same woman was booked for carrying a weapon and released on $250 bond.
This is actually a felony. While trespass is frequently a misdemeanor, there’s a special condition for the operational area of an airport under Florida Statute 810.09(2)(i).
Earlier this month, two women in high heels walked across the Moscow Sheremetyevo ramp toward an Aeroflot aircraft. One was pulling a rollaboard. They apparently believed they could still reach the flight after boarding had ended.
Last year, passengers chased a Wizz Air aircraft after it had pushed back. In Denver, a man pushed through a secure emergency exit and stopped the tug moving his United flight. He had been late for his 40th high school reunion. In Phoenix earlier this year, a person actually reached a runway and air traffic control stopped an American Airlines flight.
Which airport? Oh, that checks out.
Her confusion is understandable. Certainly, in a place named after Trump, entering a restricted area without permission is considered acceptable.
“I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star they let you do it. You can do anything.”
@1990 – Looks like another D voter.
“Carl Hiaasen was unavailable for comment.”
@Michael Mainello — In Florida? With the Mar-A-Lago face? I donno, buddy. I donno…