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A man was apprehended on Saturday at Shannon Airport in Ireland after he allegedly scaled the wing of a U.S. military plane, attacking it with a hatchet, according to local media reports.
Authorities from the Irish police force, known as GardaÃ, stated that the individual, who is in his 40s, accessed a restricted area of the airport in County Clare. He was taken into custody just before 11 a.m., suspected of causing criminal damage. Gardaà are continuing their investigation into the incident.
The aircraft in question was identified as a U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules, a transport plane that had been stationed on a secluded taxiway, as reported by the Irish news outlet, The Journal.
Footage circulating on the internet appears to capture a man dressed in dark clothing traversing the wing of the plane during the event. The video shows him moving near the engines and fuselage.
A U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft is pictured on the ground at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England, on March 18, 2026. (Leon Neal/Getty Images)
The breach raises renewed concerns about security at Shannon Airport, which has experienced multiple recent incidents involving unauthorized access to restricted areas.
A spokesperson for Shannon Airport said the airport temporarily shut down operations following the breach.
“The airport suspended operations at approximately 9:50 a.m. and operations resumed at 10:15 a.m.,” the spokesperson said.
The brief closure caused minor disruption, with two departing flights delayed and one incoming aircraft placed in a holding pattern before landing shortly after 10:20 a.m., The Journal reported.
Authorities including airport police, Gardaà and Irish Defence Forces personnel responded to the scene, The Journal reported. Armed officers and specialist units were also deployed.
Officials carried out a search of the airport perimeter to determine how the suspect gained access to the restricted area.
A U.S. Air Force transport aircraft sits on the runway at Shannon Airport in County Clare, Ireland, during a security operation for the arrival of then-President Donald Trump. (Niall Carson/PA Images via Getty Images)
According to The Journal, the incident is the latest in a string of recent security breaches at Shannon Airport.
In November, three people were arrested after a van breached airport security and entered a restricted area. In May last year, another vehicle crashed through a perimeter fence, forcing a temporary shutdown. Weeks later, three women were arrested after allegedly accessing the airfield and damaging an aircraft.
Authorities have not said whether Saturday’s incident is linked to those prior breaches.
File photo of President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arriving at Shannon Airport in Ireland aboard Air Force One. (Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
Shannon Airport has been the site of frequent anti-war protests for years over its use by the U.S. military, dating back to the Iraq War era.
Fox News Digital reached out to U.S. Air Forces in Europe for comment.