Travelers at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix this past weekend were greeted with delays, heavy security, and flight cancellations, all due to one man’s “idiotic” mistake.
On September 16, 2018, the unknown man, who police are keeping anonymous because he wasn’t arrested, left his unattended rental car idle outside Terminal 4, leading authorities to not only tow his vehicle but check it for bombs. Due to the nature of the perceived threat, the airport was essentially shut down for hours, and passengers flying in and out of Sky Harbor were left stranded.
The car was searched for more than four hours, while the man responsible for the vehicle was apprehended and questioned by authorities until the car was deemed safe. During that time, the front hood and trunk were ripped open and windows were shattered due to the bomb squad’s search.
Richard Polanco, Jr., owner of Alliance Towing, said the man was shocked that this happened, and told Polanco on their drive to the tow lot that he went in to help his girlfriend check in for her flight and thought he was gone for just a couple of minutes.
“He was just bummed out that for something so small—an idiotic mistake he made—turned into such a big deal,” Polanco said.
Yet for those who were stranded, this was far from “small.”
More than 300 flights leaving from and arriving at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport were delayed and dozens were canceled. Shuttle trains were shut down and people were left stranded. Some passengers were forced to rent cars in order to get to their destinations. It’s no surprise that many people were angry, with some even taking their frustrations over to Twitter.
While things eventually went back to normal, affected passengers may not agree with the perpetrator’s punishment: a $52 fine. There is no word yet on what other financial charges the driver may be facing.
And for the rest of you, one quick tip: It’s just … a bad idea to leave your rental car parked in front of the airport. Shenanigans will most likely ensue.
Photo: Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. Credit: Shutterstock
Sunset over Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport is beautiful, but probably not so much if you’re forced to watch it because your flight is delayed.