( CNN ) -- A SkyWest Airlines pilot on the run after allegedly killing his former girlfriend last week attempted to steal one of his company 's commercial jetliners early Tuesday , but he killed himself before the plane became airborne , authorities said . Police in Colorado and Utah spent all day Tuesday trying to piece together the bizarre incident , which involved a stolen CRJ200 that struck the terminal and parked vehicles at St. George Municipal Airport in Utah . The fugitive was identified as Brian J. Hedglin , 40 . SkyWest Airlines said he was on administrative leave . Hedglin apparently used a rug or piece of carpet to scale a barbed wire fence to reach the plane , St. George police said . `` He is going to know exactly how to get into the plane , activate the redundant systems and take that plane off , '' said Capt . James Van Fleet . Brazilian man steals plane , crashes into mall . Hedglin and Christina Cornejo , 39 , who was found dead Friday of stab wounds in Colorado Springs , both served in the Colorado Army National Guard , officials said . Cornejo was found at Hedglin 's residence , but authorities do n't know whether she went there voluntarily or was abducted , Colorado Springs Police spokeswoman Barbara A. Miller told CNN . No passengers were on board the CRJ200 , and it was not in service at the time of Tuesday 's incident in Utah , the airline said . Hedglin , who joined SkyWest in 2005 , was found dead in the plane 's aisle from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound , Van Fleet told reporters . A security officer checking the airport 's perimeter shortly before 1 a.m. first saw a motorcycle , its engine still warm . The officer went back to the terminal to check on its registration , police said . The officer saw the aircraft in the parking lot of the airport terminal , its engines still running , said Van Fleet . Several automobiles were damaged . The plane at some point clipped the terminal building and breached a fence , according to CNN Salt Lake City affiliate KSL . St. George city spokesman Marc Mortensen said the pilot reversed the aircraft off the jet bridge before pushing it forward . The left wing clipped the bridge and the plane turned left , scraping the terminal building en route to the parking lot . The aircraft leaked some fuel . Asked why the pilot may have driven to St. George , Van Fleet replied , `` The person who has those answers , unfortunately , is dead . '' Van Fleet said , `` I do n't think we 're any more vulnerable than any other airport , '' but officials said they would review security . Cornejo was found dead after a call from a family member , Colorado Springs police said . The pair were not dating at the time of Cornejo 's death , Colorado Springs police said . Hedglin was immediately identified as a suspect . `` Detectives went so far as to contact SkyWest and have them deactivate Mr. Hedglin 's access cards in the event he showed up there , '' police said . Police also believed Hedglin might try to hide in mountains , according to Miller . Airline spokeswoman Betsy Talton said law enforcement officials will look into how Hedglin might have gained access to the airplane . SkyWest provided few details on exactly what occurred . `` The aircraft did sustain damage ; the extent of the damage is currently being inspected by our maintenance and safety professionals , '' the airline said . `` SkyWest is assisting authorities in the investigation . '' SkyWest said passengers were being accommodated on other flights and through ground transportation . The FBI office in Salt Lake City said agents were at the airport and gathering facts with other agencies . `` It is important to note there is no ongoing public safety issue , and the scene is under the control of law enforcement , '' Agent Debbie D. Bertram said . Spokesman David Castelveter of the Transportation Safety Administration said the agency was reviewing `` perimeter compliance '' at the airport . According to Jane 's All the World 's Aircraft , the CRJ200 typically seats 50 passengers . Plane-stealing 'Barefoot Bandit ' sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison . CNN 's Shawn Nottingham , Alta Spells , Phil Gast , Calandra Corder and Devon Sayers contributed to this report .
Airplane struck terminal and vehicles . Suspect was being sought in Colorado Springs death , police say . Airline says employee was on administrative leave at time of incident . Commercial plane did not get airborne , official says .