PORTSMOUTH — A police pursuit ended with a vehicle breaching the security fence at Portsmouth International Airport Saturday evening, colliding with a small stationary airplane and a tractor on the aircraft parking apron, New Hampshire State Police said Sunday.
State troopers arrested Wyatt Seely, 17, of Rochester, after the incident, which occurred shortly after 8 p.m. No other injuries were reported.
How the chase unfolded
Authorities said the sequence began when troopers sought a vehicle connected to crimes reported in neighboring jurisdictions. A trooper attempted to stop a black 2008 Ford Mustang on Durham Street in Portsmouth. Officials allege the driver fled from the attempted stop, then drove through a perimeter fence surrounding the airport and across an aircraft parking area.
"The Mustang, which did not have its lights on at the time, then crashed through a perimeter fence of the nearby Portsmouth International Airport and traveled across an aircraft parking apron,"
The vehicle struck a Kubota tractor and a small, unoccupied aircraft before coming to a stop, according to the state police post on X. Seely was taken into custody by state troopers and transported to a hospital for evaluation.
Charges and court date
State Police said Seely was intoxicated at the time of the crash and was charged with several offenses, including driving while intoxicated and aggravated driving while intoxicated. Additional charges stem from fleeing law enforcement and conduct related to the crash.
| Alleged offense | Classification |
|---|---|
| Driving while intoxicated (DWI) | Misdemeanor |
| Aggravated driving while intoxicated | Misdemeanor |
| Disobeying a police officer | Misdemeanor |
| Conduct after an accident | Misdemeanor |
| Reckless driving | Violation-level offense |
Seely is scheduled to be arraigned in Portsmouth District Court on Sept. 9, 2026, according to the state police release.
Airport operations, safety questions
Officials said the plane struck was unoccupied and stationary, and there were no reported injuries beyond the driver being taken for medical evaluation. The incident raises questions about perimeter security and response protocols at the regional airport, which handles general aviation and commercial operations.
Portsmouth International Airport, like other airports, maintains fencing and access controls designed to keep unauthorized vehicles and the public off aircraft movement areas. Breaches that allow ground vehicles onto aircraft aprons, even at lower‑traffic facilities, can present hazards to people and equipment and potentially disrupt flights.
What authorities are investigating
New Hampshire State Police said the pursuit was linked to attempts to locate a vehicle associated with crimes reported in other local jurisdictions. Investigators will consider whether pursuit tactics, road conditions, or other factors contributed to the outcome and whether any airport protocols were affected.
- Investigation scope: State Police are handling the criminal investigation and recovery of the vehicle and determining the sequence of events.
- Airport impact: Officials reported no injuries besides the driver and did not immediately announce operational disruptions; future statements may address property damage and any brief service interruptions.
- Legal process: The teenager faces multiple charges and will appear in Portsmouth District Court in early September.
Airport management and state police did not immediately release a detailed assessment of damage to the aircraft or the tractor. The state police post did not specify whether the vehicle was seized or whether the teen remains hospitalized for observation.
Members of the public with information about the pursuit or the circumstances leading up to it were asked to contact New Hampshire State Police. Local aviation users and neighbors said they were surprised by the incident but relieved no one else was harmed.
Further updates are expected as the state police continue their investigation and the court date approaches.
