Man arrested after attacking U.S. military aircraft at Shannon Airport

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 22:50:00 +0200

A man in his 40s was arrested at Shannon Airport in County Clare, Ireland, after allegedly climbing onto the wing of a U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules transport aircraft and attacking it with a hatchet. The incident occurred in an unauthorized area of the airport, prompting local authorities, including airport police, Gardaí, and Irish Defence Forces personnel, to respond. The airport temporarily suspended operations from approximately 9:50 a.m. to 10:15 a.m., causing minor flight delays. Videos circulating online showed the man walking along the aircraft wing near the engines and fuselage. Authorities are investigating how he gained access to the restricted area. This breach adds to a series of recent security incidents at Shannon Airport, including vehicles breaching restricted zones and unauthorized individuals causing damage. Shannon Airport has historically been a site of anti-war protests related to U.S. military operations, dating back to the Iraq War era. Officials have not yet i