A person has been arrested after coming into an unauthorised space of an airport in the Republic of Ireland and allegedly inflicting harm to a US military aircraft, police have stated.
The suspect, aged in his 40s, was arrested for alleged legal harm and stays in custody over the incident on Saturday at Shannon airport in County Clare.
Footage circulating on social media seems to indicate a person climbing on to a US air pressure C-130 Hercules transport aircraft parked on a distant taxiway.
A Garda Síochána spokesperson stated in a press release: “On Saturday 11 April 2026 an adult male entered an unauthorised area of Shannon airport, Shannon, County Clare.
“An adult male (aged in his 40s) was arrested for alleged criminal damage by gardaí shortly before 11.00am and is currently detained under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 in a garda station in the Clare/Tipperary division.
“Investigations are ongoing.”
In addition to gardai, airport law enforcement officials, Shannon airport’s fireplace and rescue service and members of the defence forces on obligation on the airport responded to the incident.
Airport operations have been quickly suspended after the incident. Two departing flights have been delayed whereas one arriving aircraft from Lourdes, France, was positioned in a holding sample.
A spokesperson for the Shannon Airport Group stated operations resumed shortly after the incident.
“The airport suspended operations at approximately 9.50am and resumed operations at 10.15am.”
