CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A man apparently under the influence of drugs faces charges after an early morning incident at Charleston’s Yeager Airport.
Daylen Brightwell, 21, of Charleston, is charged with grand larceny. He was arraigned Friday in Kanawha County Magistrate Court.
Assistant Airport Director Nick Keller said it started about 2:30 a.m. Friday when a maintenance employee encountered an individual in the ticket counter area acting erratically.
“The guy was acting pretty erratic and seemed like he was under the influence of drugs,” said Keller. “Our employee called 911 and the Sheriff’s Department responded and ended up detaining the man and transporting him to the hospital.”
Brightwell allegedly entered a secured area of the airport and broke the seal on a United Airlines plane then rummaged through it.
Although he was finally captured by deputies, Keller added he didn’t go quietly.
“He was on the tarmac at some point and we’re still trying to look at the camera footage and determine how he got out there,” Keller explained. “He got inside one aircraft. They don’t have locks on them so anybody can get in. There was no damage or anything like that.”
Brightwell was treated and released at the Charleston Area Medical Center.
Yeager Airport police are now working with the FBI to determine if federal charges will be filed against Brightwell.