The incident happened just after 10:00 a.m. when the black Jeep Cherokee was spotted on the airfield.
Sources at the scene tell Action News that a 24-year-old male is in police custody after crashing his vehicle through Gate 25 near Hog Island Road. That particular gate is unmanned.
The suspect was apprehended a short time later. He was taken to airport police headquarters. No charges have been filed at this time.
Witnesses say the suspect was parked outside the gate apparently waiting for one of the planes to come in for a landing. As an incoming plane approached he then allegedly accelerated – blasting through the gate and onto airport property.
Those who saw the incident unfold say it appears as though the suspect attempted to time it so that the Jeep would meet the plane as it landed. Police say the vehicle never made it to the runway as officers were able to stop the man.
Police did an initial search of the car for explosives or other material that came back negative.
Inbound and outbound air traffic at the airport was temporarily shutdown as a security precaution, but runways have since reopened.
Stay with Action News and 6abc.com as more information becomes available.
--- Go to WPVI-TV Philadelphia for the latest on this developing story
