Assistant U.S. Attorney Albert Glenn said Mazik, 24, a University of Delaware graduate, could also face potential civil enforcement actions by the Transportation Security Administration. The prosecutor said issues related to why Mazik drove on to the runways would be addressed at sentencing.
Mazik, dressed in khaki slacks and a long-sleeve, blue shirt with white stripes, told U.S. District Judge Mitchell Goldberg that he was being treated for depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and had abused the drug Adderall.The government's plea memo said that after Mazik crashed through the airport gate, he drove onto a runway, damaging two runway lights that alert approaching aircraft to the beginning of the runway.
At the time, a passenger plane was on final approach for landing but pulled up as Mazik accelerated and continued to drive the entire 10,500-foot length, according to the plea memo.
Mazik then turned eastbound and on to a second active runway, which was being used for departing passenger planes. Philadelphia police eventually caught up to him. The airport was closed for 30 minutes, and airport personnel had to clean up broken lights and check runways for debris before it reopened, the plea memo said.
Defense attorney Kerry Kalmbach said Mazik was "just attempting to get away from people he thought were after him," adding, "he's a good kid who made some bad choices."
Contact Michael Hinkelman at 215-854-2656 or hinkelm@phillynews.com or follow on Twitter @MHinkelman.
