A man was arrested at Shannon Airport in Ireland on Saturday after allegedly climbing onto the wing of a US military plane and attacking it with an axe, according to local reports.
Irish police, or gardaí, said a man in his 40s entered an unauthorized area of the airport in County Clare and was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage shortly before 11am. The investigation is ongoing, gardaí said.
The aircraft involved was a US Air Force C-130 Hercules transport plane that was parked on a remote taxiway, according to Irish news outlet The Journal reported.
Video circulating online showed a man in dark clothing walking along the wing of the plane during the incident. He moved over the wing, close to the engines and fuselage.
JORDANIAN NATIONAL ARRESTED AFTER BOARDING FLIGHT IN ARIZONA WITH INVALID TICKET, LEADING TO EVACUATION
A U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft on the ground at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England, March 18, 2026. (Leon Neal/Getty Images)
The breach has renewed security concerns at Shannon Airport, which has recently seen several incidents involving unauthorized access to restricted areas.
A spokesperson for Shannon Airport said the airport had temporarily ceased operations following the breach.
“The airport suspended operations at approximately 9:50 a.m. and resumed at 10:15 a.m.,” the spokesperson said.
JORDANIAN NATIONAL ARRESTED AFTER BOARDING FLIGHT IN ARIZONA WITH INVALID TICKET, LEADING TO EVACUATION
The brief closure caused a minor disruption, with two departing flights delayed and one incoming plane placed in a holding pattern before landing shortly after 10:20 a.m., The Journal reported.
Authorities including airport police, gardaí and Irish Defense Forces personnel responded, The Journal reported. Armed officers and specialized units were also deployed.
Officials conducted a search of the airport area to determine how the suspect gained access to the restricted area.
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A U.S. Air Force transport plane sits on the runway at Shannon Airport in County Clare, Ireland, during a security operation for the arrival of President Donald Trump. (Niall Carson/PA Images via Getty Images)
According to The Journal, the incident is the latest in a series of recent security breaches at Shannon Airport.
In November, three people were arrested after a van breached airport security and entered a restricted area. In May, another vehicle crashed through a fence, forcing a temporary stop. Weeks later, three women were arrested after allegedly entering the airport and damaging a plane.
Authorities have not said whether Saturday’s incident is related to these previous violations.
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President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive aboard Air Force One at Shannon Airport in Ireland. (Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
Shannon Airport has been the scene of frequent anti-war protests over its use by the US military for years, dating back to the Iraq War era.
