A 32-year-old man allegedly climbed an eight-foot, barbed-wire fence at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, entered a parked JetBlue Airbus A320 and fell asleep in the lavatory. He was identified as Samuel Prescott Lackey and now faces charges including burglary of an occupied conveyance and interrupting critical infrastructure; bond was set at $10,000. The plane was pulled from service for a security sweep, costing JetBlue about $2,400 in delays. Airport officials are reviewing fence and door-security procedures after surveillance showed the suspect near the hangar hours earlier.
Man Climbs Eight-Foot Airport Fence, Sleeps in Parked JetBlue Jet; Faces Felony Charges
Image Credit: Broward Sheriff's Office / YouTube.
A 32-year-old Fort Lauderdale man allegedly scaled an eight-foot, barbed-wire-topped perimeter fence at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, boarded a parked JetBlue Airbus A320 and fell asleep in the aircraft lavatory, according to authorities. The discovery forced a full security sweep, pulled the jet from service and added roughly $2,400 in delay-related costs for the airline.
Suspect and Charges: Authorities identified the suspect as Samuel Prescott Lackey, 32. He was found early Sunday by a maintenance crew preparing to reposition the aircraft. Court records say Lackey now faces charges including burglary of an occupied conveyance, criminal mischief, and interrupting or impairing critical infrastructure. Bond was set at $10,000 in Broward County court.
How the Intrusion Allegedly Occurred: According to court documents and local reporting, the Airbus had been parked overnight at a private JetScape Business Aviation hangar for routine servicing. Investigators say Lackey climbed portable maintenance stairs left beside the plane, entered through a door that had been left unlocked, and settled into the lavatory to sleep. Surveillance footage reportedly shows him walking along a nearby service road hours before maintenance personnel discovered him.
Operational and Security Impact: Because the aircraft required a full security sweep before it could return to passenger service, JetBlue removed the jet from operation and substituted a replacement. The airline estimates the incident added about $2,400 in costs and delays. The Broward County Aviation Department says it is reviewing how someone could scale an eight-foot, barbed-wire fence and move around an active hangar without detection.
Public Reaction and Stakes: The bizarre nature of the episode prompted mixed reactions from travelers and staff — from bemused comments about the "hustle" to serious concern about perimeter security. Officials emphasize that perimeter protections exist to prevent far greater risks, and that this incident exposed a vulnerability that needs addressing.
Next Steps: Airport and airline officials say they are reviewing fence and door-security protocols and investigating the circumstances that led to the breach. Meanwhile, Lackey faces the legal process, and authorities hope the unlocked entry point will be identified and secured promptly.
Note: Reporting referenced court documents and local coverage. No passengers were harmed; the plane was on the ground undergoing maintenance at the time.
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