A man was taken into custody at Shannon Airport in Ireland on Saturday after he allegedly scaled the wing of a U.S. military aircraft and attacked it with a hatchet, according to local reports.
Authorities, known locally as the Gardaí, reported that the individual, in his 40s, breached a restricted area of the County Clare airport. He was apprehended just before 11 a.m. under suspicion of causing criminal damage. Investigations into the incident are currently underway, the Gardaí confirmed.
The aircraft in question was identified as a U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules transport plane, which was stationed on a remote taxiway at the time, according to The Journal, an Irish news source.
Footage circulating online captures a man dressed in dark attire walking along the wing of the aircraft during the episode. The video shows him navigating close to the engines and the fuselage.
In the image above, a U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft is pictured on the ground at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England, on March 18, 2026. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
This security breach has reignited concerns regarding safety protocols at Shannon Airport, which has recently faced several incidents involving unauthorized entries into secure areas.
A spokesperson for Shannon Airport said the airport temporarily shut down operations following the breach.
“The airport suspended operations at approximately 9:50 a.m. and operations resumed at 10:15 a.m.,” the spokesperson said.
The brief closure caused minor disruption, with two departing flights delayed and one incoming aircraft placed in a holding pattern before landing shortly after 10:20 a.m., The Journal reported.
Authorities including airport police, Gardaí and Irish Defence Forces personnel responded to the scene, The Journal reported. Armed officers and specialist units were also deployed.
Officials carried out a search of the airport perimeter to determine how the suspect gained access to the restricted area.
A U.S. Air Force transport aircraft sits on the runway at Shannon Airport in County Clare, Ireland, during a security operation for the arrival of then-President Donald Trump. (Niall Carson/PA Images via Getty Images)
According to The Journal, the incident is the latest in a string 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 last year, another vehicle crashed through a perimeter fence, forcing a temporary shutdown. Weeks later, three women were arrested after allegedly accessing the airfield and damaging an aircraft.
Authorities have not said whether Saturday’s incident is linked to those prior breaches.
File photo of President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arriving at Shannon Airport in Ireland aboard Air Force One. (Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
Shannon Airport has been the site of frequent anti-war protests for years over its use by the U.S. military, dating back to the Iraq War era.
Fox News Digital reached out to U.S. Air Forces in Europe for comment.
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