Chased Down By Baggage Handlers

A 43-year old man crashed his car through the fence surrounding San Antonio International Airport on Saturday, bailed out of the vehicle and ran toward a Delta flight departing for Atlanta.

"He approached the front of the aircraft, and then I lost sight of him. And then he veered off and started running toward the gate. The baggage carriers started chasing him," said passenger John Schopper, who was aboard the Delta flight.

KSAT-TV reported employees of Southwest Airlines and officers with the TSA finally corralled the man, who was described by airport spokeswoman Lara Uselding as a "deranged, intoxicated Mexican national." She said he hadn't eaten in several days.

As he was being taken into custody, authorities said the man pointed at the Delta MD-80 and told them he had put a suspicious item on the aircraft. The crew, along with the 63 passengers on board, had to deplane. The aircraft was searched by a bomb-sniffing dog before everyone was allowed back on board, two-and-a-half hours later.

The suspect was detained in a holding cell at the airport. Authorities said he'll be charged with trespassing, making terroristic threats and stealing the truck he road in on. Federal charges might also be pending.

FMI: www.sanantonio.gov/airport/?res=1152&ver=true