DETROIT, MI (AP)-- An Associated Press investigation shows that the security fences and perimeter gates at Detroit Metropolitan Airport have been breached four times in the past two years.
Last April, for example, a woman smashed her truck through a security fence, which was open for about 45 minutes before officials responded.
In all, AP found that between January 2004 and January 2005, at least 268 such breaches occurred at 31 major U.S. airports.
Incidents ranged from fence jumpers taking shortcuts and intoxicated drivers crashing through barriers to mentally ill intruders looking to hop flights. None was terrorism-related.
Airports say breaches are relatively rare. Security measures typically include fences, cameras and patrols, but there are gaps. Not all of the miles of fences are routinely patrolled or covered by video surveillance.