A Delta Air Lines passenger was arrested after allegedly stealing an airport tug and crashing it on the tarmac at John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County, California, on October 6, 2026.
According to airport officials, the man, who was scheduled to fly to Seattle, left the terminal at around 17:30 local time through an emergency access door at Gate 12 in Terminal B, setting off an alarm.
Once on the airfield, he took a tug assigned to Alaska Airlines, a vehicle used to tow aircraft and baggage carts, and drove it to Gate 7, where he crashed into a utility cart. He then tried to take an American Airlines lavatory service truck before airport police arrested him. He was taken to a hospital for evaluation after the crash.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department identified the suspect as Skyler Jay Barr, 26, of Everett, Washington. He was charged with vehicle theft, trespassing and vandalism and remained in custody in county jail as of October 7, 2026.
So apparently, a Delta passenger went on a wild ride at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana. He allegedly stole a tug, crashed it into another vehicle, abandoned it, then immediately tried to steal an American Airlines lavatory truck before getting arrested. But the real question is: How did he get onto the ramp in the first place? That’s a serious airside security breach. Meanwhile, the ramp looked like a scene from a comedy movie. 🎥KTLA
— Aviation Reporter (@TripppleSeven7) October 8, 2026
Brief disruption to operations
The breach briefly halted aircraft movements at the airport. Air traffic controllers informed pilots waiting on the ground of a security breach involving a stolen tug. Airport crews then inspected the taxiway between Gates 7 and 12 for debris or other hazards before operations resumed.
Delta said it was cooperating with law enforcement. Alaska Airlines referred questions about the tug to ground handling company AGI, which officials said owns the vehicle.
John Wayne Airport serves more than 11 million passengers a year, with flights to around 50 destinations.