A 35-year-old Island man faces several charges after unlawfully entering the property at the Charlottetown airport in July.
Matthew David Joseph Carter of Charlottetown is charged with endangering the safety of an aircraft or airport, impaired driving and damaging property.
Carter was allegedly spotted by security just before 11 a.m. on July 16 parked at the southeast portion of the airport’s active east-west runway.
Doug Newson, CEO of the Charlottetown Airport Authority, said the locks on the fence where the accused entered were damaged.
“The locks on the fence were cut. There were two fence lines along that part of the property, and both were cut open,” said Newson. “It’s our belief, obviously, that he cut the gates and then drove on to the property.”
Newson said two airport employees approached the individual, and it was their belief the accused was “possibly impaired”. So the staff called Charlottetown Police Services to assist.
When officers arrived, the man was arrested and his car was towed, said Newson.
Deputy Chief Brad McConnell said the suspect was remanded into custody at the time.
McConnell said a drug recognition test determined the man was under the influence of drugs at the time of the offence. He added it is unclear what the man was doing on the property in the first place.
“We’re not sure what his true intentions are. The matter is still before the courts, so we don't want to get into too many details.”
The accused has been in jail since the offence because endangering the safety of an aircraft or airport is a charge taken very seriously and “certainly was a factor in his incarceration,” said McConnell.
Newson said the airport has a security program in place and inspections are done regularly, adding the July incident was an isolated one.
“We are thankful that this individual was noticed before any flight activity or any commercial flights were impacted,” he said. “Safety and security are our number one priority here at the airport.”
A lawyer appeared in provincial court in Charlottetown Sept. 5 on Carter’s behalf. The matter was adjourned until Sept. 10.
