A 911 call has revealed how JetBlue Airways employees discovered a man allegedly sleeping aboard an Airbus A320 family aircraft at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) after he entered a secured airport area and boarded the plane without authorization. The incident occurred in the early morning hours of Friday, August 2, while the aircraft was undergoing maintenance, according to the Broward County arrest report and local news outlet WSVN.
The man, identified as 32-year-old Sammuel Lackey of Fort Lauderdale, was subsequently arrested and faces charges including burglary of an occupied conveyance, criminal mischief, and interrupting critical infrastructure. Authorities allege the incident delayed a flight and cost the airline about $2,400.
According to the 911 caller, JetBlue’s Move team was sent to retrieve the aircraft after maintenance work had been completed. Workers entered the aircraft and began preparing it for its next operation when they discovered the unexpected occupant. The caller told emergency dispatchers that employees had turned on the aircraft and then left the cockpit to conduct a walk-around. During that inspection, they found someone sleeping toward the rear of the aircraft.
The discovery meant the aircraft could not proceed normally with its scheduled operation. Workers alerted authorities, and the individual was eventually removed from the plane and taken into custody. The circumstances also explain why the incident was not discovered immediately after the man entered the aircraft, as the plane was not carrying passengers and was undergoing maintenance.
“They found somebody sleeping inside the plane,” a 911 caller said, according to WSVN.
The arrest report provides a more detailed account of how Lackey allegedly reached the aircraft. Deputies said he was observed walking west along a service road near JetScape before accessing a portable staircase and entering the aircraft. He allegedly concealed himself in the aft lavatory before later falling asleep. Authorities also allege that Lackey admitted climbing over a fence to reach the secure identification display area and aircraft operations area at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Those areas are not intended for unrestricted public access.
The sequence illustrates the multiple layers of access control surrounding parked aircraft, particularly when an aircraft is positioned away from a passenger terminal. Even when an aircraft is not boarding travelers, it remains within a tightly controlled operational environment where access is restricted to authorized employees, maintenance personnel, and other airport workers. An unauthorized person entering the aircraft can therefore create more than a security concern. It can trigger additional inspections, disrupt maintenance procedures, delay the aircraft’s return to service, and require law enforcement involvement before the aircraft can resume normal operations.
A JetBlue A321neo narrowly avoided a collision with another aircraft after receiving a TCAS alert.
Lackey’s case has now moved into the criminal justice system. A Broward County Circuit Court judge found probable cause on three counts: burglary of an occupied conveyance, criminal mischief involving more than $1,000, and interrupting or impairing critical infrastructure. Lackey remained in custody as of August 19, according to WSVN. The charges are allegations, and the criminal case will determine whether prosecutors can establish the accusations in court.
“Mr. Lackey, you are here on three counts: count one, burglary of an occupied conveyance, count two, criminal mischief over $1,000, and count three, interrupt and impair critical infrastructure,” said a Broward County Circuit Court judge. “Court does have probable cause on all three counts.”
The unusual circumstances nevertheless underscore why airline employees perform physical inspections even after maintenance is complete. In this instance, what initially appeared to be a routine aircraft walk-around led workers to discover an unauthorized person inside the cabin, preventing the aircraft from simply returning to service. Bigger questions about airport infrastructure and security will need to be addressed in the coming days.
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