Woman accused of trying to steal jet at St. Louis Downtown Airport charged

The woman who talked her way past security and allegedly tried to steal a disabled corporate jet at St. Louis Downtown Airport in Cahokia Wednesday is facing a burglary charge.

Naima Wartts, 38, of St. Louis was charged on Friday, St. Clair County State’s Attorney Brendan Kelly’s office announced. Burglary is a class 2 felony that carries a maximum prison sentence of seven years.

Wartts’ bail was set at $25,000.

Wartts entered the 20-seat jet and started hitting buttons to get it started, Sauget Police Chief Patrick Delaney said. Wartts told officers she wanted to fly to China but later said she wanted to go to New York.

She was spotted on surveillance cameras and airport security called police.

The Bombardier Global 5000 jet is owned by UBS AG in Zurich, Switzerland, according to Kelly’s office. The jet was parked at the airport because it was being renovated.

This story was originally published August 7, 2015 at 3:29 PM with the headline "Woman accused of trying to steal jet at St. Louis Downtown Airport charged."