The US Air Force tightened security at Andrews Joint Base after an intruder breached security and boarded one of the aircraft reserved for officers and commanders, the Pentagon said on Friday.
The base houses the unit responsible for Air Force One and other aircraft reserved for the country’s elected leaders and senior military levels. After gaining access to the airfield, the unarmed intruder entered a C-40 aircraft on the 89th Wing Airlift, known as the “presidential wing,” officials said.
“I think everyone is taking this very seriously, and the acting Air Force secretary and the Air Force chief of staff will order the Air Force inspector general to fully investigate this issue,” said the Pentagon press John Kirby told reporters on Friday.
Commanders also ordered additional security measures at the base, Kirby said.
The C-40 plane the intruder entered is the Air Force equivalent of a 737 plane, painted in the United States government’s blue and white color scheme, and was designed as an “office in the sky” for military, government leaders and members of Congress. The plane is equipped with secure communications, bedrooms and work desks, according to the U.S. Air Force.
The intruder was eventually arrested by the base’s security forces, fined by the Air Force’s Office of Special Investigations and received a federal subpoena for trespassing, Joint Base Andrews said in a statement. He was turned over to the local police in Maryland because he had two outstanding warrants, the statement said.
There was no indication that the suspect had ties to extremist groups, base officials said.
The incident occurred the day before President Joe Biden flew from Andrews to Wilmington, Delaware.
The base is located in Maryland, about 22 kilometers southeast of Washington.