Marshall McClain, president of the union that represents the officers who patrol L.A.’s airports, including Van Nuys, said the incident should be “a wake-up call” for airport managers.
Police believe gangs are responsible for a graffiti attack on a $2.3-million Learjet in a secure area of Van Nuys Airport.
“This is a big deal to me, to have somebody who could get onto the airfield and who could do that kind of damage, that kind extensive graffiti to an aircraft, and not be seen,” said Los Angeles Airport Police Chief Patrick Gannon. “I’m not happy about it.”
Gannon, who said the culprit went to “great lengths” to access the airfield, said meetings have already taken place to discuss strategies to prevent future incidents, including parking aircraft where they will be more visible to airport security officers.
The jet, which was vandalized with black spray paint spelling out “flame,” “R.I.P.” and an unidentified initial on the left front fuselage, was parked in an overflow area of the tarmac near Maguire Aviation in the 7100 block of Valjean Avenue at the time of the incident, said law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation.
There were also several initials spray-painted on the tail of the aircraft.
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