"Take Me With You"... Chilean Man Blocks Airplane by Entering Runway

Blocked the Plane After Missing His Flight
Detained by Security and Now Facing Trial

A man who missed his flight due to being late for boarding at an airport in Chile ran onto the runway and blocked the aircraft, later being handed over to the police.

According to local media BiobioChile and others, the incident occurred on the 3rd (local time) at El Tepual Airport in Puerto Montt, Los Lagos Region, southern Chile. The man, known to be from Venezuela and aged 29, was originally scheduled to board a LATAM Airlines passenger flight to Concepci?n. However, he missed the boarding time and was unable to get on the plane. In a panic, the man ran onto the runway and blocked the plane that was preparing for takeoff.

On the 3rd (local time), a man ran onto the runway at El Tepual Airport in Chile, stopping a plane. Screenshot from social media (SNS)

Footage of the situation shows a passenger with a backpack crossing the runway and then running wildly toward the plane. He stood in front of the aircraft to prevent it from moving and waved his hands toward the cockpit while shouting something. Airport staff and security personnel who saw this rushed to the man and pulled him off the runway. Afterwards, the man was handed over to the local police and is reported to be facing trial. Local media reported that the man had previously been arrested on charges including theft and threats.

The airport is scheduled to begin international flights in April, raising concerns about security. Rodrigo Weinreicht, mayor of Puerto Montt, criticized in an interview with the media, saying, "This incident reveals what kind of security policies are being implemented at the airport." Rodrigo Ursuado, head of the Los Lagos regional office of the Chilean Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC), pointed out, "This incident clearly shows the vulnerabilities of the airport security system," adding, "There is a need to review and improve existing protocols."

Recently, incidents exposing security gaps have occurred repeatedly at Chilean airports. Not long ago, at Santiago Airport, a Haitian man was arrested after illegally entering the immigration and security inspection area and causing disturbances by damaging the check-in counter area. Prior to that, at the same airport, another passenger illegally entered the runway to retrieve a mobile phone left on board the aircraft.