Stowaway arrested after hiding in plane’s wheel on flight to Miami
A repeat stowaway named Jehffrey Gutirres has been caught once again attempting to hide in an airplane compartment in an attempt to snag a free flight from Houston to Miami. Gutirres, 26, has previously been caught attempting to sneak into an airplane in April and January, which led to him facing multiple trespassing charges. Last Friday, employees conducting a pre-flight check discovered Gutirres in the wheel compartment of an American Airlines flight. Subsequently, Gutirres has been charged with trespassing once again.
The April incident which led to the charges and an order to stay away from airports like Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston, and Hobby airports hasn’t deterred Gutirres. Despite the warning and the electronic monitoring he had to wear, he once again hopped a security fence to gain access to the tarmac and snuck into the wheel compartment of an American Airlines flight. Gutirres continues to endanger the lives of himself and other passengers, using the same tactic that he had previously used to successfully escape prosecution.
The plane compartment, in which Gutirres attempted to hide, contained crucial steering and hydraulic components that were crucial to the plane’s safety. Prosecutors describe Gutirres as a “repeat trespasser” who had tried the same dangerous stunt before. Officials noted that the act Gutirres attempted endangers the lives of passengers, as it threatens landing gear.
The Memorial Day weekend was severely impacted by the discovery of Gutirres, which led to several delays and interruptions. The airport has since released a statement stating that they are enhancing security measures after the incident. Jehffrey Gutirres is now being held on a $1 million bond, four times more than what prosecutors were seeking.
FAQs
Who is Jehffrey Gutirres?
Jehffrey Gutirres is a repeat stowaway who has been caught multiple times trying to hide in airplane compartments as an attempt to snag a free flight.
What happened?
Gutirres was caught trying to sneak into an airplane once again by gaining access to the Bush Intercontinental Airport and sneaking into the wheel compartment of an American Airlines flight. An employee conducting a pre-flight check discovered him.
What were the repercussions?
Gutirres has been charged with multiple counts of trespassing and is now being held on a $1 million bond. The Memorial Day weekend was impacted with several delays and interruptions, leading to the airport strengthening its security measures.
Why is the act of stowing away dangerous?
The act endangers the life of passengers as it threatens landing gear and hinders the proper functioning of vital steering and hydraulic components of the airplane.
Has Gutirres tried this before?
Yes, Gutirres has attempted this dangerous stunt before in April and January, leading to multiple trespassing charges. He has also successfully attempted the same tactic before in November 2021.
Miami-bound flight’s stowaway arrested for hiding in plane’s wheel
A man with a history of trying to stow away on planes was caught once again when he attempted to sneak into the wheel compartment of an American Airlines flight from Houston to Miami. Jehffrey Gutirres, 26, was arrested and charged with trespassing for putting the lives of 166 passengers in “grave danger.” The Houston man had attempted the dangerous stunt to evade prosecution for a previous trespassing charge. Previously, Gutirres had attempted to stow away onboard flights but was caught in the act and released on bond. Despite an order to stay away from Bush Intercontinental and Hobby airports, Gutirres was caught for trespassing on May 17, leading to several delays and interruptions over the Memorial Day weekend. Officials noted that the stunt Gutirres attempted jeopardised the safety of passengers as it threatens landing gear. Gutirres is now being held on a $1 million bond, four times more than what prosecutors were seeking.