A 45-year-old Depew resident is facing seven state criminal charges in connection with a May 20 security breach at Buffalo Niagara International Airport.
Charged was James Muench, according to the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority - owners and operators of BNIA.
According to the NFTA and Police Chief Brian Patterson, Muench allegedly drove his GMC Sierra pickup truck through a security fence along Luiz Kahl Way, and across a taxi way and runway before stopping on an inactive runway and training airplane. Muench surrendered peacefully, Patterson said.
The incident happened at 7:30 a.m. but no air traffic was delayed or impacted, Patterson said.
The charges filed against Muench include:
- Reckless Endangerment
- Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree
- Reckless Driving
- Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device
- Criminal Trespass
- Criminal Tampering in the Second Degree
- Obstruction of Governmental Administration
More charges may be pending following additional investigations by the NFTA Police, along with state and federal law enforcement agencies.
Muench was arraigned in Cheektowaga Town Court.
