Tampa Man Accused Of Breaking Into Airport, Trying To Steal Plane

CLEARWATER, FL — A Tampa man is in custody after crashing his way through a gate at the St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport in Clearwater Saturday morning and then attempting to steal a plane, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies responded to a suspicious vehicle driving on the airport’s runway near some commercial airplanes at 4:48 a.m. When deputies tried to stop the driver, they said 36-year-old Herrera Hamilton Moreno headed to the U.S. Coast Guard station, crashing through the security gate.

Moreno then stopped his vehicle in a large hangar and ran to a parked C-130 military transport plane. He managed to get into the cockpit of the plane before deputies subdued and arrested him.

There were no injuries or damages.

The vehicle Moreno was driving was reported stolen Friday night.

Moreno's been charged with fleeing and eluding, trespassing, grand theft auto, habitual traffic offender, burglary and two counts of criminal mischief.

He may also face federal charges.