MYRTLE BEACH - Police received a call Friday morning that a man had been stabbed at the Myrtle Beach International Airport. Shortly before 11 a.m. Friday airport police received the call from an airport maintenance worker who said a man was threatening to hurt himself.
Police said a 49-year old male trespassed into restricted airfield space.
"The suspect was making indications that he wanted to harm himself," said Horry County Police Sergeant Robert Kegler.
The maintenance worker called police, and as they swarmed the scene, the man pulled out a sharp object and began to stab himself repeatedly.
Horry County police apprehended the suspect, and he was transported to the hospital.
Airport spokeswoman Lauren Morris said she's never seen an incident like this since she's worked at the airport, but said security followed each step according to the safety procedures that are in place at the airport.
"We have processes in place and each agency that’s involved has their own set of procedures, whether its TSA, the Horry County Police Department,” said Morris. “The airport staff tends to support those and those jurisdictions, depending on the incident."
The suspect died at the hospital within an hour of the incident.
Morris said she's proud of the way authorities responded, and that airport passengers remained safe throughout the morning.
"The passengers' safety is really one of our number one priorities, and we take it very very seriously,” said Morris. “We work very closely with all of the agencies, and it’s like I said, passenger safety is of critical importance to us."
The coroner has not released the name of the suspect.
Airport officials said the incident did not affect air travel at all.
Authorities are reviewing security cameras and a thorough investigation is currently underway.
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