$1M bail for Chadds Ford man after chase on airport runways

By Robert Moran, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
Posted: March 05, 2012

Bail was set Monday at $1 million for the man who disrupted Philadelphia International Airport last week by leading police on a high-speed runway pursuit after crashing through a gate with an SUV.

Kenneth Richard Mazik, 24, of Chadds Ford, was arraigned Monday morning before Magistrate Judge Timothy O'Brien on charges of driving under the influence, resisting arrest, aggravated assault, possession of a controlled substance, and related offenses.

Court documents show he is being represented by the Defender Association of Philadelphia. He is scheduled to appear again in court Monday.

On Thursday morning, Mazik crashed a Jeep Grand Cherokee through a locked gate at the airport, speeding toward a plane that was about to land, authorities said.

An FBI affidavit said Mazik raced "at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour."

While Mazik led airport police on a chase along several runways, air-traffic controllers diverted 75 planes into holding patterns and prevented the departures of 80 other aircraft.

Mazik, who was stopped after several minutes, also faces a federal airport-disruption charge that carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

The FBI said Mazik was combative while in custody and hurt two police officers who were trying to put him in a holding cell.

The affidavit said the breach resulted in a costly disruption of airport operations and "endangered the safety and passengers and crew of the aircraft" that he sped toward.

Airport officials issued a statement Friday saying they "continually review airport safety and security procedures with the TSA, Airport Police, FAA, and other federal agencies."

Contact Robert Moran at 215-854-5983 or bmoran@phillynews.com, or follow on Twitter @RobertMoran215.

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