July 11, 2012 - Kenneth Richard Mazik, 24, of
Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on
Tuesday to one count information charging him
with disrupting the services of the Philadelphia
International Airport on March 1, 2012, and in
so doing endangering the safety at that airport.
At approximately 11 a.m. on March 1, 2012, Mazik
who was intoxicated crashed his black Jeep Grand
Cherokee through a locked gate on the perimeter
of the airport as an airplane was approaching
for landing. He turned onto runway 9R, running
over and damaging two of the runway threshold
lights that alert approaching aircraft to the
beginning of the runway. At the time, the
incoming airplane was approaching that same
runway.
Mazik then sped down the runway with the
airplane approaching from his rear. The FAA Air
Traffic Controller had to divert the plane and
also revoked landing clearance for an additional
passenger plane.Mazik sped off runway 9R,
narrowly missing an airport antenna, crossed a
second active runway and continued toward the
eastern end of the runway systems. He then sped
down runway 27R with Philadelphia police in
chase.
Mazik drove the entire length of runway 27R,
driving off the west end before stopping on an
adjacent taxiway where police arrested him.
Mazik’s actions closed the airport for 30
minutes and numerous planes were delayed,
causing financial expense and losses to
Philadelphia International Airport. Mazik
faces a maximum possible sentence of 20 years’
imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and
possible restitution when sentenced on October
24, 2012 (See
video).
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