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Man Sneaks Onto Jet At Van Nuys Airport, Smokes Cigarette

VAN NUYS (AP) — Police have arrested a man who sneaked through a vehicle entrance at Van Nuys Airport and boarded a jet, where he hung out smoking a cigarette.

Employees discovered the 25-year-old transient Thursday afternoon on a Gulfstream G4 at the airport, which serves noncommercial flights.

Los Angeles Airport Police say he hid behind a vehicle entering the airfield and made it to a hangar, then boarded the plane. When confronted, he put out the cigarette, causing about $5,000 in interior damage.

He was arrested on suspicion of trespassing and vandalism.

The airport has seen several other intrusions in recent months, including an incident in which taggers spray painted three jets. An Associated Press investigation showed that, nationally, people get past airport perimeter security more often than authorities publicly acknowledge.

(Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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