Calgary man says ‘don’t do crystal meth’ after hijacking luggage vehicle at Orlando airport

A Canadian man has been released from jail following a bizarre, and dangerous, vehicle hijacking at Orlando International Airport Friday morning.

When asked what happened, he told American reporters: “Don’t do crystal meth.”

Police said a man set to fly to Canada, via Chicago, on a United Airlines flight was denied boarding due to belligerent behaviour.

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“He was acting belligerently and was denied access to the airplane,” said Orlando Police Department Public Information Officer Michelle Guido, in an email to Global News.

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According to an affidavit from Orlando police, Hogh sat on an unassigned first-class seat and claimed to be a pilot. When asked to move to his proper seat, police said he told them he “wanted to sit in the pilot jump seat.”

“Due to his behaviour, Hogh was removed from the aircraft and the gate agent began to rebook him for a later flight,” reads the affidavit. “A short time later, his carry-on luggage was found unattended, near the gate.”

He was taken off the plane, then a cleaning service employee said he followed her onto a service elevator until it reached the ground floor into a secure area that’s not open to members of the public.

“Hogh got off the elevator, took off his pants, and left the area.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Hogh got off the elevator, took off his pants, and left the area."

According to police, the man then pushed past airport staff and made his way onto the tarmac, where he took control of a luggage tug and drove it across active runways. An airport staff member was “battered” in the process.

“He pushed past the gate staff and into the jetway, then battered a GOAA employee while pushing out through the door at the end of the jetway,” said Guido.

“He made his way onto the tarmac and commandeered a luggage tug and drove it across active runways.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "He pushed past the gate staff and into the jetway, then battered a GOAA employee while pushing out through the door at the end of the jetway," said Guido.</p><p>"He made his way onto the tarmac and commandeered a luggage tug and drove it across active runways."

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He was eventually stopped by firefighters based at a nearby station and taken into custody by police. There were no service alerts regarding the incident on the airport’s website.

Richard Hogh, 29, of Calgary, was arrested for trespass (for going onto the secure ramp area of the airport) and grand theft of the United Airlines tug, valued at $75,000.

Orlando police could not provide additional details Tuesday morning.

A judge reduced Hogh’s bond from $5,100 to $2,600 on Saturday, according to the Orlando Sentinel.