Illinois man arrested after allegedly driving car on airport runway and boarding plane

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LAKE COUNTY, Illinois. – An Illinois man was arrested Tuesday after driving a vehicle onto a busy airport runway and boarding a plane.

Erik Deanda-Gonzalez, 30, of Zion, was charged with trespassing on an airport runway, trespassing on airport property, resisting a peace officer, unlawful possession of firearm ammunition without a FOID card and trespassing.

At around 11:55 a.m. Tuesday, Lake County Sheriff's officials responded to a report of a Toyota speeding back and forth on a busy runway.

When officers arrived, they learned that Deanda-Gonzalez had allegedly parked his car and began entering hangars at the airport. Officers eventually found him in an airplane parked near a taxiway.

Airport staff explained to officials that the plane did not belong to Deanda-Gonzalez and that he should not have been on it.

Deanda-Gonzalez then allegedly exited the plane and spoke with the deputies. Afterwards, everyone went back to the Toyota.

Officials asked Deanda-Gonzalez why he was at the airfield, and at that moment, without warning, he reportedly turned around, ran back to the plane and tried to crawl back inside.

Officials pulled him off the plane and took him into custody. He gave no explanation as to why he was at the airport.

Officers searched Deanda-Gonzalez's vehicle and found ammunition but no firearm.

He appeared in court on Wednesday, where he was released on conditions.

His next court date is scheduled for September 3.