An individual has been charged with unlawfully entering Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and boarding a JetBlue aircraft on Sunday, August 2, 2026. The incident involved Bruce Bennett sneaking over a fence and accessing an empty JetBlue plane undergoing maintenance, according to police reports.

The culprit, identified as 32-year-old Sammuel Lackey, was discovered sleeping inside a 2012 Airbus A320 during a routine inspection by JetBlue staff. This inspection was conducted before relocating the aircraft early on Sunday. Details from an affidavit by the Broward Sheriff’s Office indicate that the plane was positioned at JetScape Services, located at 350 SW 34th Street. The left rear door of the aircraft was open to facilitate maintenance activities with portable stairs attached for easy access.

Lackey accessed the aircraft by climbing the stairs and subsequently concealed himself in the plane’s bathroom. The doors were secured around 4:25 a.m., with Lackey still inside. Approximately an hour later, employees discovered his presence.

The unforeseen discovery of Lackey delayed the aircraft’s scheduled movement to its gate, prompting another plane to substitute for the flight. JetBlue estimated the financial impact of this disruption to be $2,400.96.

In a conversation with authorities, Lackey admitted to scaling a fence to gain entry into secure locations, including identification and aircraft operation zones within the airport.

Despite requests, neither the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport nor JetScape Services provided comments on the incident as of Wednesday night.

Lackey faces charges including burglary, criminal mischief, and disruption of vital infrastructure. Court documentation reveals he has yet to secure legal representation. He remains in custody at the Broward Main Jail with his bond set at $10,000.