OKLAHOMA CITY – A teen aboard a Houston-to-Oklahoma City flight jumped from the jet bridge of a parked plane Monday in order to avoid arrest, according to authorities.
Sgt. Megan Morgan, of the Oklahoma City Police Department, said the 16-year-old was wanted on a second-degree burglary warrant in Cleveland County, Oklahoma, and apparently knew he was going to be arrested by deputies at the airport in Oklahoma City.
Morgan said the teen slipped through an opening in the jet bridge, ran across the tarmac and climbed on top of the terminal and jumped onto another jet bridge, according to police. Authorities chased him and the teen jumped from the top of the second jet bridge to the ground, breaking his legs, Morgan said.
The teen was arrested and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, Morgan said.
United Airlines, which operated the flight, issued the following written statement about the incident:
"United Airlines is cooperating with law enforcement officials following an incident with a passenger after United flight 5706 arrived at the gate in Oklahoma City this afternoon. We refer any additional questions on this matter to the local authorities."
Editor's note: This story was updated to reflect new information from police.