Overview
- Police say the 34-year-old climbed a fence from an airport road just before 6 p.m. Monday, ran toward a plane on the runway, and was detained on the airfield.
- Court documents state Mendoza removed his shoes and was taken into custody after air traffic controllers reported he was waving his arms and kneeling on the runway.
- He is charged with criminal trespass and with being a prohibited possessor after officers reported finding a gun in his car.
- In a separate January incident, federal court records say Qais Ahmad Tillawi cleared TSA and boarded a Paris-bound flight without a valid boarding pass.
- An airport spokesperson emphasized layered security and coordination with law enforcement, while a security consultant said such breaches can reflect complacency risks but do not indicate a systemic failure at Sky Harbor.