I'm no pilot but you might not want to be soaring over nuclear power plants.
This demonstrates the dearth of common sense prevalent in the LEO ranks of small town, USA.
If the glider was an explosive laden, suicide bomb, it would have been over before the police were ever called.
That the police were present when the local airport operator called the FAA and the FAA said there was no violation, indicates they (police) didn’t need “no stinkin violation” they were looking for chance to go full SWAT on the guy.
The Police Chief should be fired and the others put on unpaid leave, at least.
If you read the story, the pilot’s intent was not to fly over the powerplant, but in the unpowered, small glider he was seeking rising air to gain altitude that day.
Agreed. I was working at a nuke when 9/11 happened. There was strong concern the terrorists were going to try something with the nukes, and every report of any kind of unrecognized aircraft in immediate proximity to the plant was cause for great concern. I expect the no fly zone, if it in fact exists, was not communicated to the pilot due to some sort of human error, negligence, etc., which probably is why the authorities are backing off.
Why?
I fly ove one all the time.
To this point it is not illegal.
i do know they do not care for you to circle one at a low altitude.
And in this case I’d bet the farm it is because his craft is nearly invisible to radar.