Fort Lauderdale man arrested after allegedly sneaking onto JetBlue plane, found sleeping
A Fort Lauderdale man was arrested after being found sleeping on a JetBlue aircraft, delaying a flight and disrupting operations at a maintenance facility.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. —
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A South Florida man is behind bars after allegedly getting caught sleeping on an airplane.
According to court records, Sammuel P. Lackey, 32, from Fort Lauderdale, was arrested on Sunday, Aug. 2, at a location near the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
He faces charges of burglary of an occupied conveyance, criminal mischief and interruption of critical infrastructure.
According to a Broward Sheriff’s Office report, JetBlue Move Team employees discovered Lackey sleeping aboard a 2012 JetBlue Airbus A320 at 5:39 a.m. during a routine interior inspection prior to movement of an aircraft on Sunday.
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The report notes the aircraft was at JetScape Business Aviation, located at 350 SW 34th Street, which is near the airport, for maintenance between Saturday night and early Sunday morning.
Surveillance video from the location revealed that on Saturday at 9:51 p.m., Lackey is seen walking west on the service road southeast of the maintenance facility.
At some point, Lackey allegedly climbed portable stairs that maintenance employees left near the aircraft and entered the plane through an unlocked rear door.
The report notes Lackey hid in the aircraft’s restroom. At 4:24 a.m. on Sunday, the aircraft doors were closed and locked.
The plane was then pushed back to a parking space at the maintenance facility.
The report notes that because Lackey was found on the aircraft, the aircraft was unable to be moved on schedule. The flight scheduled for the aircraft was delayed as another aircraft had to be used.
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JetBlue said the interruption of the flight was valued at $2,400.96.
According to the report, Lackey told deputies in an interview that he climbed a fence to access the maintenance facility where the aircraft was located.
The report added the interruption caused $200 or more in labor within the critical infrastructure.
Lackey remains in the Broward County Jail on $10,000 bail.