Intruder locks himself in BA 747 jet cockpit

AN intruder sparked a security alert at Heathrow after climbing aboard a plane and locking himself in the cockpit.

The 38- year- old man broke through an airport security cordon and managed to get into the cabin of the empty Boeing 747.

Police were called to the British Airways engineering base where the passenger jet was parked at 11.40am on Saturday, after the intruder was spotted by staff.

He then fled into the flight deck, slamming shut the high- security cockpit doors.

A source said it was impossible for security staff to get to him because the bomb-proof doors are designed to protect the pilot and co-pilot should a terrorist try to hijack the plane during flight.

‘It was a very difficult and complex situation and in the end the fire brigade had to be called to the plane, and carried out a long and very protracted operation to get into the cockpit from outside,’ said the source, who asked to remain anonymous.

‘Eventually they managed to gain access to the cockpit and police were able to storm in and arrest the intruder. It is a terrifying situation when you think about it.

‘Here is a man who not only has managed to go air-side at one of the world’s busiest airports, but he has successfully got to a Boeing 747 jet liner and found it open and was able to climb aboard.

‘Then he has got on to the flight deck and barricaded himself in using the plane’s own anti-terrorist equipment.’ The source added: ‘As far as I know there is no suggestion he is in any way linked to terrorism, but imagine if he had been a terrorist with the ability to handle the controls of a 747.’

Police confirmed last night that there had been an incident on a parked aircraft at Heathrow, saying it was not believed to be terror-related. A Scotland Yard spokesman said a 38-year- old man had been arrested and was being held in custody at a West London police station.

The suspect, named as Louis Pedro Verdasca dos Santos Costa, of Hounslow, west London, was charged with unlawfully boarding an aircraft and will appear in court.

A British Airways spokesman declined to comment ahead of the hearing.