3 planes vandalized at Ames airport

Anna Conover

Three planes were vandalized early Sunday at the Ames Municipal Airport, 2508 Airport Dr.Sgt. Mike Johns said about $100,000 damage was done, including a broken hangar door and broken windows in two planes. He said the police department notified FBI officials and the Federal Aviation Administration of the burglary and vandalism. The incident is still under investigation.”We haven’t identified the suspect,” Johns said.Damage was done to three airplanes owned by Midwest Flying Services, said Cari Vust, president of Midwest Flying Services.”Somebody, we’re not sure who, vandalized three airplanes, two on the aircraft ramp and one was on a hangar,” she said. “There is an investigation. They have some leads, but won’t tell for sure.”Vust said the vandalism happened sometime between midnight and 6 a.m. Sunday. She said the perpetrators broke the Plexiglas windows of two airplanes sitting outside the terminal with broomsticks.”It takes a substantial hit to break the windows, and our insurance company is talking about posting a reward for any information,” Vust said.The other plane was vandalized inside the maintenance shop at the airport.”The plane was on a hangar, and the person started the engine and ran it through the hangar door,” she said.The hangar door is owned by the city of Ames, Johns said. A hangar is where the airplanes sit and are heated for flight.Midwest Flying Services brought in replacement planes from its parent company in Sheldon, and Vust said no flights had to be canceled because of the damage.She said the damage is considered a class 1A felony and includes a minimum of 10 years in prison.