The airplane mechanic who told his supervisors last month that he had discovered a brake system had been sabotaged on a United Express commuter plane at O’Hare International Airport was arrested Thursday.
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According to a criminal complaint filed in federal court, Gerald W. Bradshaw, 31, of 368 Glenwood Drive, Bloomingdale, admitted cutting the wires “in an effort to implicate another mechanic in an effort to get that mechanic fired from his job at United Express.”
Bradshaw, who has worked for United Feeder Service since April, was arrested Thursday while working at O’Hare.
United Feeder Service has a marketing agreement with United Airlines to operate under the United Express name.
Officials with United Feeder Service could not be reached for comment.
Federal officials said Bradshaw would be formally charged Friday with a count of destruction of an aircraft. If convicted, he could face 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Authorities alleged Bradshaw severed five wires on an aircraft that he was examining Nov. 29.
The sabotage occurred during the Thanksgiving Day weekend, one of the year’s busiest periods. It also sent a scare through many travelers who frequent O’Hare.
According to the complaint, Bradshaw was conducting a routine inspection of the 64-seat twin-engine plane. It had arrived from South Bend, Ind., the night before without passengers and was scheduled to depart for Green Bay, Wis., the next day.
Bradshaw told his supervisors that he noticed five of seven brake lines had been cut, the complaint said. The wires provide the plane’s backup brake system.
Though the tampering grounded the plane, several aviation officials said the severed wires would not have affected the airworthiness of the plane.
FBI agents interviewed employees who had access to the plane, said Randall Samborn, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office in Chicago. Agents interviewed Bradshaw on Thursday and later arrested him.
The tampering incident persuaded United Express to re-emphasize safety and security to all employees.
The incident also prompted officials with the Chicago Department of Aviation to review all security clearances with air carriers and to remove outdated employee badges, said department spokeswoman Monique Bond.