Sea-Tac Airport targeted by copper wire thieves
Feb 20, 2013, 10:42 AM | Updated: 1:15 pm
Sea-Tac airport was targeted by copper wire thieves. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Thieves stole 1,000 feet of copper wire, disabling part of a lighting system at Sea-Tac Airport that helps pilots land in bad weather.
The copper wire is linked to the approach light system for Runway 34L and is located at the south end of the airport.
“The system is protected by two layers of fencing, an inner fence and an outer fence, and the thieves cut through both of those,” said Ian Gregor, spokesman for the FAA in Wash., D.C. “It’s pretty brazen and it’s, when you think about it, pretty unconscionable too.”
Sea-Tac Airport has three runways and the theft is not expected to impact flight operations.
“All three Sea-Tac runways have instrument landing systems which allow planes to land in low visibility conditions so losing the approach light to one system isn’t going to have an air traffic impact in the short term,” Gregor explained.
Repair and replacement work is underway and should be complete by next week.
