Suspect in Newark airport breach pleads guilty

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — A student from China has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor in a Newark, N.J., airport security breach that led to worldwide flight delays.

Haisong Jiang will pay a $500 fine and perform 100 hours of community service as part of the plea to defiant trespassing.

The Rutgers University graduate student says through an interpreter that he is “deeply sorry.”

He was arrested Jan. 8, days after authorities said he entered a restricted area to say goodbye to his girlfriend at Newark Liberty International Airport.

Authorities say the Jan. 3 breach shut down a busy terminal and snarled flights worldwide. The breach exposed security concerns at one of the nation’s busiest airports.