Intruders scale Sea-Tac fences more than officials disclosed

SEATTLE (AP) — Intruders got over the fencing that protects Seattle-Tacoma International Airport's runways more than authorities disclosed, though the security breaches are not frequent.


An Associated Press investigation shows seven incidents at Sea-Tac from 2004 through mid-February.

Airport officials had acknowledged five incidents. Federal records showed two other fence jumpers, including a man who had two steak knives when he was stopped near a terminal in 2011.

A Sea-Tac spokesman said a records search missed the cases because they were listed as trespassing, not breaches.

There were no breaches last year, though on May 7 another intruder got over a fence.

Airports say their perimeters are strong and note no breach involved a known terrorist plot.

Nationally, breaches happen about every 10 days at one of the 31 major airports AP studied.