Tri-Cities Airport tightens security after confused man drives Subaru onto runway

The Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco is tightening security after a Kennewick man drove a Subaru Forester past a construction gate guard Friday and onto an active runway.

No airplanes were landing or taking off at the time, said police and airport officials.

Steven M. Chappell, 39, of Kennewick, was arrested by Pasco police after an employee in the control tower spotted an unauthorized vehicle inside the security fence.

Pasco Police Sgt. Richard Leininger said he was in the area when he heard the call from the tower. He spotted the silver Subaru and watched as it stopped near private hangars along Rickenbacker Drive, on the southwest side of the runway.

He was joined by Officer Sam Baker and the two entered the secured area and detained Chappell. He told them his home was at the end of the runway.

Chappell’s car was impounded, and he was booked at the Franklin County jail shortly before 1 p.m. Friday for first-degree trespassing. Bail was set at $1,000.

The incident did not affect airport operations, said Buck Taft, manager of the Port of Pasco owned airport.

Taft said Chappell was not part of the construction crew working on airport runway and terminal renovations.

He drove past a guard posted at an open construction gate. Now, the gate will no longer be left open between vehicles.

“Luckily, we’re not a super busy airport. If we were Sea-Tac, there would have been problems,” he said.