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Florida man crashed car through airport gate, made it inside C-130 cockpit
A Florida man stole a car and used it to break into St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport over the weekend, investigators told the Associated Press.
The 36-year-old suspect, Herrera Hamilton Moreno, gained access to the airport by crashing through the gates at around 4:48 a.m Saturday.
Sheriff’s deputies assigned to the Airport Unit noticed the car veering around parked commercial airliners, prompting them to pursue Moreno.
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As the chase neared the airport’s Coast Guard station, Moreno barreled through a USCG security gate and headed towards a large hanger.
Moreno parked the stolen car inside the hangar, and attempted to escape on foot. With nowhere obvious to retreat, the man ran towards a Coast Guard C-130 aircraft.
He made it all the way into the cockpit and was quickly captured, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.
Moreno is set to receive a litany of charges due to the incident. These include: fleeing and eluding, trespassing, grand theft auto, habitual traffic offender, burglary, and two counts of criminal mischief.
Nobody was injured and no aircraft sustained damage during the chase.
Moreno’s bond is currently set at $24,150 and federal charges are pending.
Read the sheriff’s report on the event here.
A Glimpse at the C-130
Lockheed Martin originally designed the C-130 Hercules in the 1950s as a troop, medevac, and cargo transport aircraft.
Borrowing the words of those who use a Hercules to describe it, Lockheed calls the plane “the world’s most proven workhorse.” The C-130 is a member of a small group of planes that have been in service for over 50 years, due to its durability and variety of uses.
It is unknown whether Moreno thought he could pilot the gigantic plane or not.
