A United Airlines pilot faces criminal charges after destroying a parking barrier with an axe. The bizarre incident happened at an airport employee parking lot at Denver International Airport.

United pilot chops parking barrier with axe

United pilot 63-year-old Kenneth Henderson Jones was arrested after he was caught on camera attacking the parking barrier with an axe. Jones retrieved the axe from the trunk of his vehicle before hacking at the barrier 23 times, causing $700 worth of damage.

He was confronted by an airport staff member, who attempted to take the axe away from Jones during a "physical struggle." After a second airport employee showed up, Jones relinquished the axe and walked away to a nearby field - he would then be arrested by authorities, charged with misdemeanor criminal mischief, and is due to appear in court on September 25th.

Russel Carlton, Corporate Communications Manager for United, told CBS News,

"He was removed from the schedule and is on leave while United conducts an internal investigation."

Pilot at "breaking point"

After he was arrested, Jones told officers that he "just hit his breaking point." The pilot had been in a queue of cars trying to leave the parking lot, with lines of vehicles stuck at each of the lot's three exit gates. He added he was "trying to get rid of issues for everyone waiting" by removing the barrier forcibly.

Photo: Angel DiBilio | Shutterstock

Public records show Jones was certified to fly larger commercial jets, including the Boeing 757 and Boeing 767. The pilot was later released from police custody, while records show no previous arrests in Colorado.

The employee parking lot in question at Denver International Airport has reportedly been facing issues recently due to people parking without the correct permits, so this may not be the first time Jones has encountered problems.

Latest United pilot problem

Earlier this summer, another United pilot made the headlines for the wrong reasons after turning up to fly under the influence of alcohol. The 63-year-old captain tested six times over the legal blood alcohol limit following a breathalyzer test at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock

He had been due to pilot a Boeing 777 on a transatlantic flight to Washington but was instead arrested by police, and the flight was canceled. The pilot was handed a six-month suspended prison sentence and a €4,500 ($5,000) fine, was banned from flying in French airspace for a year, and sacked by United.

Have you ever heard of an incident like this? Do you think the pilot will ever fly a commercial plane again? Let us know in the comments.

Source: CBS News