The man accused of breaching security at Austin Bergstrom International Airport told KVUE News Thursday that he's sorry.

The security breach happened Wednesday on a Jet Blue flight bound for New York. Police arrested Carlos Romero, 37, a doctor in Austin.

He's charged with entering a restricted area at ABIA and causing a big delay for travelers.

Sixty-nine passengers were waiting to take off Wednesday evening when a security breach stopped everything.

"This gentleman -- Carlos L. Romero -- was apparently late for a flight," said Lisa Koenig, ABIA spokeswoman.

Romero had already passed through airport security. He arrived at his gate too late to board the plane, but airline officials say he found another way.

"He went through a fire exit, went down the stairs onto the apron, went up some more stairs that lead to the jetway and got the attention of the Jet Blue staff and he was allowed to get on the plane," said Koenig.

ABIA PD

Carlos Romero

He got on the tarmac and went up a set of stairs to get on the passenger foot-bridge.

It's not known why Jet Blue employees let him board, but airport police found him because the door he opened set off an alarm.

All 69 passengers had to de-board and go through security again, causing a two hour delay.

"I would be frustrated, but happy that they caught him in time," said traveler Sara Riddles.

"If I would have seen that person, I personally would have taken them down," said Sean Miles, passenger.

Police charged Romero with entering a restricted area -- a misdemeanor.

Romero is a podiatrist at Austin Regional Clinic in South Austin.

Jet Blue officials released this statement:

"We are still investigating to determine specifically what happened. The crewmember has been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation."

Meanwhile, passengers like Miles say this incident proves safety comes first, and that's most important to him.

"I'd rather make sure my daughter is arriving safely as opposed to worrying somebody might be on the plane that shouldn’t be on the plane," said Miles.

Romero released the following statement Thursday:

"I am sorry for the inconvenience and alarm I caused. I want to make clear that I arrived at the airport an hour before my flight and had already been cleared through airport security. But I went to the wrong gate. In my urgency to catch my flight at the right gate, I walked out of the door leading to the tarmac in order to see whether I could still get on my flight. Please accept my apology for the inconvenience and alarm I caused.”