Written by By Staff Writer
(CNN) — A passerby spotted a man jumping out of a taxiing airplane as it prepared to take off at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, according to a statement from the airport.
“Mr. Claudio Luis Faria Coello was observed earlier climbing onto the wing of the airplane and then running across an area reserved for aircraft mechanics to exit,” the statement reads.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
No flight was ever at risk, according to Sky Harbor, and security guards spotted the man walking towards the tarmac near a taxiing Cessna 172 before it took off.
“They looked at each other, then said, ‘If he climbs out, go get him,'” the airport said. “An off-duty U.S. Secret Service agent met the escorts and wrestled the man to the ground. The agent placed a blue tarp over the aircraft to shelter it from onlookers.”
Police were called to the scene and transported the man to a local hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries. The plane that the man was seen running towards, a Cessna 172, was idling on the runway, the airport said.
The airport said in a statement that it has strict policies and procedures for dealing with such incidents.
“Crisis intervention training is provided to our uniformed staff to better identify and interact with individuals who may be exhibiting signs of distress,” it said.
“The Department of Homeland Security Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating the incident.”