SWA Mechanic Caught Nabbing

A Southwest Airlines mechanic who was fired his first day on the job at Chicago's Midway Airport faces a laundry list of charges, after a security sting operation caught the man swiping medical supplies from a Northwest Airlines aircraft.

Authorities say Anthony J. Donato, 30, entered the NWA plane and removed a medical pack from a storage locker. The Cook County state attorney's office told the Chicago Tribune that Donato was stopped by Northwest security personnel.

"Northwest Airlines set up [the sting]. Donato had no authority to be on a Northwest plane," said state's attorney spokesman Andy Conklin.

Investigators are looking into the possibility the alleged theft may be tied to a recent rash of medical bad thefts from aircraft parked at Midway. Donato, a certified A&P, had just been hired by Southwest, and was arrested during his first day on the job at the low-cost carrier.

Donato was subsequently fired from the job, Southwest spokeswoman Beth Harbin said.

Burglary of an aircraft, including items from an aircraft, is a class 2 felony -- and can mean anywhere from 3-7 years of jail time.

FMI: www.nwa.com, www.southwest.com