A man was arrested after crashing his car through a gate at Daytona Beach International Airport and attempting to board multiple planes. Bryan J. Parker, 58, of Holly Hill, was detained by airport personnel and law enforcement after the incident on Wednesday, March 27.
Immediate Action & Core Facts
Parker drove a blue Ford Mustang through a locked perimeter gate at the airport around 4:23 p.m. He then entered the taxiway, nearly striking an occupied plane. After failing to enter the occupied aircraft, he briefly boarded two unoccupied planes before being apprehended. Parker was charged with attempted aircraft piracy, burglary of a conveyance, felony trespass, and other offenses.
Deeper Dive & Context
Incident Details
Body camera footage released by the Volusia Sheriff’s Office shows Parker handcuffed and seated on the ground, admitting to drinking alcohol and using drugs before the incident. He told deputies he had attended an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting before the crash. Witnesses reported seeing the car speed toward the Embry-Riddle section of the airport.
Law Enforcement Response
Airport operations and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University security personnel responded immediately. An airport operations technician chased Parker, pulled him out of a plane, and briefly detained him before he was ultimately apprehended. The FBI and the Volusia Sheriff’s Office Domestic Security Unit are investigating the scene.
Airport Operations
The airport confirmed that operations were not affected by the incident. The car drove onto the secondary runway, not the main runway, according to airport personnel.
Legal Proceedings
Parker remains in custody at the Volusia County Branch Jail. The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be filed.