A quiet Friday night at Crystal Airport turned chaotic when a car smashed through the entrance gate, sent its occupants bolting onto the airfield, and drew a swarm of squad cars from across the northwest metro. Brooklyn Park police said the late-night crash ended with one arrest on suspicion of driving while impaired and no additional arrests announced.
Police response and arrest
Brooklyn Park Police told KSTP that officers and partner agencies rushed to the airport near 63rd Avenue North and Zane Avenue North after the vehicle plowed through the entrance gate around 10:06 p.m. Friday.
According to the station, law enforcement searched both the airport grounds and nearby neighborhood blocks after witnesses reported that people ran from the car onto the airfield. An adult man was arrested on suspicion of driving while under the influence, and authorities said there were no other arrests at the scene.
About the airport
Crystal Airport is a Metropolitan Airports Commission owned reliever field just northwest of downtown Minneapolis. The commission lists the airport’s address as 5800 Crystal Airport Road and notes that MIC sits adjacent to Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center. The MAC says the airfield hosts flight training, maintenance operations and an FAA operated control tower, factors that likely influenced how officers locked down sections of the field during the response.
Neighborhood context
The area around 63rd and Zane, immediately north of the airport, has seen its share of trouble in recent years, including fights and gunfire at nearby businesses, according to local coverage. CCX Media documented a 2021 shooting and earlier disturbances in that corridor, context that helps explain why officers quickly set up a perimeter when the car’s occupants took off toward airport property.
Investigation and next steps
Brooklyn Park Police have not released the arrested man’s name and have not detailed any formal charges beyond the reported suspicion of driving while impaired. No additional arrests were reported…