Man stabs himself outside Myrtle Beach International Airport

Local and federal officials are reviewing how a 49-year-old man got past a barbed wire fence and into a restricted area of Myrtle Beach International Airport before stabbing himself to death.

Horry County police and airport officials are reviewing tapes from airport property security cameras to determine how the man got onto the airfield, said Lauren Morris, spokeswoman for Horry County Department of Airports.

An airport employee spotted the man at 10:45 a.m. and confronted him, at which point he stabbed himself several times, officials said.

Officials did not release the name of the man but said he was not a passenger at the airport.

The incident occurred on the airfield away from the airport terminal and tarmac, according to authorities.

Flights and passengers inside the terminal were not affected, Morris said.

Officials with the Transportation Security Administration also are reviewing the incident, said Jon Allen, a TSA spokesman based in Atlanta.

"We'll review the circumstances to determine how the individual accessed the portion of the airfield," Allen said.

Because the employee quickly recognized the man should not be in the area and because of the rapid response of law enforcement, disruptions of flights did not occur, Allen said.

"It's certainly too soon to speculate based on what happened [Friday] morning whether anything needs to be done differently," Allen said.

Brad Dean, president and chief executive officer of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, said in a news release that "we would like to commend airport personnel and Horry County police for their quick and decisive action to keep the situation from escalating."

"The airport is a key component of the Myrtle Beach tourism industry. Providing a safe, efficient experience for those traveling through our airport, as well as those who work there, is a top priority for everyone."

The Myrtle Beach chamber employs several staff members at its airport visitor center, welcoming visitors and providing information about the Myrtle Beach area daily, chamber officials said.

Horry County police Sgt. Robert Kegler said the maintenance employee who confronted the man notified Horry County police officers stationed at the airport and they responded to the airfield.

The intruder suffered several superficial stab wounds to the abdomen and a more serious wound to his upper chest, Kegler said.

He died at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center at 11:05 a.m., Kegler said.