Man jumps fence, strips, tries to climb onto private plane at Midway International Airport

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Chicago Police late Tuesday were investigating how a drunken man managed to hop a wire fence at Midway International Airport – and try to stop a private jet from taking off by jumping onto the plane.

As CBS 2's Marissa Perlman reported, the man managed to scale the barbed-wire fence that blocks off Midway Airport along the south side of 55th Street. The fence is about 10 to 12 feet high.

The man got onto the tarmac, and police said it looked like he left his shirt, shoes, and even pants behind.

Police said it was around 4:45 p.m. when the man jumped the fence. He tried to stop a plane from taking off, but then, he took off his clothes.

"This guy is stripping butt-naked right now," a pilot is heard saying over the air traffic control scanner.

The man had no shirt or shoes on, and his jacket was left blowing in the wind on the barbed wire fence. Police said the man appeared to be intoxicated as he started walking toward that small private jet.

On the air traffic control scanner, you can hear the pilot – who had just been cleared for takeoff – react as the suspect tried climbing onto the wing of the plane.

"He's right here at the front of the jet. He's trying to get in," the pilot is heard saying. "Our door is open here."

Later, the pilot said police had the suspect on the ground and he was "giving them a fit."

The plane was eventually allowed to take off.

Video from Chopper 2 showed police, Fire Department crews, and at least one K-9 unit at the scene, searching the perimeter.

Chicago Police said the suspect was quickly apprehended. He was taken to Loyola Medicine MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn for a mental evaluation.

CPD says charges are now pending for the man but he currently remains at Loyola for his mental evaluation.

No other flight operations were interrupted at Midway during the investigation.

In:
• Midway International Airport