Man drives car onto Miami airport runway

McClatchy Newspapers

MIAMI — A 73-year-old man drove his black Chevrolet Cobalt through a wooden gate and onto runway 9 at Miami International Airport on Friday — raising questions about the airport’s security.

But airport leaders say they have an almost-immediate answer: They’re in the midst of upgrading the airport’s airside security from the wooden lift-arm system to a hydraulic system with pop-up barriers that they say would stop any vehicle.

Miami-Dade airport police quickly stopped the driver. He was taken to the airport police station for questioning.

“It’s a possibility that this guy lost his way or was disoriented,” said Miami-Dade Detective Robert Williams, a spokesman. “But until they finish interviewing him, we won’t know for sure.”

Police do not believe Friday’s security breach was terrorism related.