A man of Hispanic origin was arrested again for hiding inside an airplane compartment in Texas, specifically, in one of the wheels.
Jehffrey Gutirres, 26, was arrested Friday after he was caught on the plane in Houston in an attempt to fly for free to Miami, Florida.
Gutirres was charged with trespassing for breaking into a compartment on an American Airlines plane at Bush Intercontinental Airport.
The ABC 13 report states that the compartment contained precise conduction (a heat transfer mechanism in which thermal energy moves from one point to another) and hydraulic components and that the man’s action put the 166 passengers in grave danger.
The man was free on bail for another incident of this type on April 28. In that instance he also tried to hide on a plane.
As part of the criminal prosecution, the suspect was ordered to stay away from Bush and Hobby airports.
Despite the warning, he was arrested once more on May 17.
Following the new incident, he was ordered to wear an electronic shackle.
Gutirres removed the device before the incident last week.
Airport sources indicated that Gutirres jumped a security fence to enter the runway. The intruder was discovered by an airline employee inside the wheel well during a pre-takeoff check.
The situation led to an increase in security in the middle of Memorial Day weekend and caused flight delays and disruptions.
Gutirres has been known to the authorities since at least 2021 when he managed to land in Miami from Guatemala in November of that year hidden on the freight train. Gutirres entered the country illegally, although it is not clear how he got to Houston after that. The repeat offender is apparently homeless and is being evaluated for mental issues.
Gutirres remains in custody on $1 million bail, four times the amount requested by the Prosecutor’s Office.
Keep reading:
VIDEO: Man was discovered after traveling from Guatemala to Miami in the landing gear of an airplane