“I think everybody s taking this very seriously, and the acting secretary of the Air Force and the Air Force chief of staff are going to order the Air Force inspector general to fully investigate this issue,” Pentagon press secretary John Kirby told reporters on Friday.
The man was unarmed and didn’t harm anyone, according to Joint Base Andrews. There’s no information linking him to extremist groups.
The man was detained, interviewed and given a federal summons for trespassing. He is in the Prince George s County, Maryland, jail awaiting transfer to Arlington County, Virginia, where he is wanted for failing to appear for a December hearing on a stolen vehicle charge from August.
Air Force will investigate base security worldwide in wake of intruder entering jet at JBA, home of Air Force One February 5
A man gained unauthorized access to the flightline at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, Thursday and entered a C-40 aircraft assigned to the 89th Airlift Wing. It was not immediately clear which model of C-40 it was. Here, a new C-40C airplane arrives at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., in 2007. (Tech. Sgt. Dan Oliver/Air Force) In the wake of an intruder gaining unauthorized access and entering a jet at Joint Base Andrews, the Air Force will review security practices around the world, officials said Friday afternoon.
The Air Force ordered a broad review of security at all its installations on Friday, after an unarmed man got access to the flightline at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland and entered an aircraft used by top U.S. and military officials.
Air Force leaders have asked the Air Force inspector general to look into the breach, which happened on Thursday, as well as review security protocols at bases worldwide. Everybody is taking this very seriously, said chief Pentagon spokesman John Kirby, adding that the Air Force already adjusted some of its security protocols at Andrews this morning. He did not provide details on the adjustments, but President Joe Biden is expected to arrive at Andrews later on Friday to fly home to Wilmington, Delaware.