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Unlawful Airfield Access Incident at Southwest Oregon Regional Airport

Person in a vehicle looking at an airplane on the tarmac through binoculars.
Operations Continuing Inspections
A close-up of a shiny, silver private jet parked on the tarmac with large jet engines visible.
One of the Jets on the Apron
Close-up of an aircraft's propeller and landing gear in a hangar.
Aircraft Parked in the Commercial Hangar
Airplane on tarmac beside a large hangar under a cloudy sky.
Commercial Hangar and Aircraft
Person in a vehicle looking at an airplane on the tarmac through binoculars.
A close-up of a shiny, silver private jet parked on the tarmac with large jet engines visible.
Close-up of an aircraft's propeller and landing gear in a hangar.
Airplane on tarmac beside a large hangar under a cloudy sky.

NORTH BEND, Ore. — In the early morning hours of Wednesday, September 3, 2025, a North Bend resident, 57-year-old Melvin Myhill, unlawfully accessed the secured airside area of the Southwest Oregon Regional Airport.

A coordinated search was conducted by Operations staff and responding North Bend Police Officers, who located Myhill inside a private aircraft near the commercial hangar. It was discovered Myhill entered multiple aircraft before being located. He was taken into custody and has been charged with 17 counts, including:

  • 11 counts of Criminal Mischief in the First Degree
  • 2 counts of Unauthorized Entry into a Motor Vehicle
  •  2 counts of Burglary in the Second Degree
  •  1 count of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle
  • 1 count of Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree

Following his arrest, Myhill was released from custody and transported to Bay Area Hospital for evaluation.

A total of 11 aircraft were affected, all of which were parked inside the commercial hangar or on the apron inside the secured airport boundary. All General Aviation aircraft owners and operators have been notified and advised to conduct thorough checks and inspections before moving their aircraft.

Assurances to the Public

  • Aircraft movement at the airport remains normal.
  • Commercial and general aviation flights have not been impacted.
  • Cargo shipments have continued without interruption.

The Southwest Oregon Regional Airport administration is working closely with the North Bend Police Department, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Coast Guard, and Coos Aviation. Property inspections, security checks, and reporting are ongoing in coordination with federal and local authorities.

The incident remains under investigation.

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