Posted on 10/31/2025 1:45:41 PM PDT by DFG
A Native American tribe seized a Minnesota pilot's plane after he made an emergency landing on their land, citing a decades–old law the tribe claimed gave them control of the aircraft.
Darrin Smedsmo was flying over the Red Lake Indian Reservation when his single–engine Stinson airplane suddenly stopped working mid–air.
With less than three minutes until disaster, the experienced pilot was forced to land on a paved state road below.
Moments later, Smedsmo's plane was confiscated by tribal police, who claimed he did not have the authority to fly it over their reservation.
If he wants his plane back, he will have to suffer through a tribal trial – starting November 3.
'The land is theirs, but they are claiming the air is theirs,' Smedsmo told AIN. 'They don't control the air. That is basically untenable.'
The Roseau, Minnesota, native was traveling from his home city to Bemidji as his Stinson aircraft malfunctioned.
'Well, today was the day,' Smedsmo recalled on Facebook. '3500 [feet] and the engine made a little noise, [and] pretty soon no noise [at] all.'
'I don't know what happened, but the engine seized. I safely landed on the highway. Thankful,' he added.
A state worker who was also Smedsmo's neighbor came to his aid.
He helped remove the fallen plane from the road and called the tribal police for further help.
'Bad news,' a Red Lake officer said, apparently having spoken to tribal chief Darrell G. Seki, Sr. 'We're going to do what the chairman said.'
Smedsmo was told his plane had violated the tribe's 1978 law banning 'any airplane' from flying over Red Lake lands at less than 20,000 feet.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
This is something Elizabeth Warren would do.
They should just hit him with a landing fee and send him on his way.
Do they own the Red Lakes Casino?
I doubt very seriously that any reservation is not a crime ridden dump. Find one that isn’t and show it to me.
I notice the tribes are always in line for US govt handouts even though they don’t pay taxes..thdy a t e sovreign until its not convenient...
Should have brought firewater.
The pilot said he was at 3,500 feet when the trouble began.
They shouldn't even get that. He landed on a state hwy.
Wounded Knee.
Its their new Air Force.
The last paragraph does seem to say what it says.
Not sure they can confiscate his plane as no punishment is named. But providing that they have authority over their airspace up to 20,000 feet (not sure that is accurate) then he might have been in the wrong.
Lol. Nothing matters. They have the plane. He might as well forget it. Either that, or take an army in to get it back. I would be interested in seeing the latter.
And they’re always whining about the White Man stealing their land. Ancient history and it’s like slavery. Any black who was a slave, I’m in favor of reparations. Any Injin who walked the Trail of Tears, they deserve an apology.
“””I doubt very seriously that any reservation is not a crime ridden dump. Find one that isn’t and show it to me.”””
I worked on a lot of them. Red Lake was the worst. I remember one in South Dakota that was run by a guy that wouldn’t tolerate anything. If you let your dog run lose he would make it disappear. If you put a car up on blocks he would tow it. It was a decent place. With the explosion of meth addiction I would bet they are all far worse now.
Smedsmo was told his plane had violated the tribe’s 1978 law banning ‘any airplane’ from flying over Red Lake lands at less than 20,000 feet.
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He wasn’t flying - he was crashing, albiet very gently.
They well find out that broken plane with a bad engine is a liability not an access.
But first do supersonic flybys at 200 feet with about 20 B-1 bombers.
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50 feet, wings back, burners lit.
Shakes the ground when it goes by.
Eye-watering.
He was falling with style.
Drones
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