Posted on 11/02/2025 9:05:23 AM PST by Red Badger
A Minnesota pilot found himself in a bizarre situation this month, as he was forced to make an emergency landing on a Native American reservation, only to learn that he was about to face an even more frustrating ordeal.
The Daily Mail reported on the strange incident:
Native American tribe snatches pilot's plane from him after he made emergency landing on their reservation https://t.co/FgD6LkQntk— Daily Mail (@DailyMail) October 31, 2025
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.
Citing a decades-old resolution passed by the Red Lake tribal council, the reservation authorities hauled Smedsmo's aircraft away, pending an official tribal hearing.
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.
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 said. 'They don't control the air. That is basically untenable.'
The law is the law, I guess. But not making an emergency exception? That seems a little unfair.
Can't say this comes as a surprise, though. It makes Indians sad when you drop stuff on their land.
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Aviation Ping, White Eyes!..............
Its the new Red Lake tribal Air Force
Aerowampum for whiskey. How...Ugh! Ngauwa! Make heap-big deal.
This could remake the definition of “air rights” on property.
Lol.
“”Can’t say this comes as a surprise, though. It makes Indians sad when you drop stuff on their land.”””
Their “sacred land” is covered in whiskey bottles and beer cans. It’s the worst rez I have been to. The Injuns have learned how to grift well.
Red Lakers don’t play.
White man not welcome.
It’s a foreign country up there.
when do whites get reservations? We are undergoing genocide now too in the country that our forefathers built.
Or maybe they should just set up barrage balloons. That might be cheaper alternative.
I used to fish upper Red Lake, but now all the walleye are gone.
Now, the question is if he was flying below that point they claim is theirs (yes) and if they have a legal right to control the air to that point (maybe).
It has nothing to do with his landing, it has to do with him flying where he should not have been in the first place.
If the area is marked as a no fly zone below a certain altitude and he was flying below that point, he is in the wrong and sucks to be him. Although losing your plane might be considered excessive penalty.
If it is not marked (possible) or he was flying above that altitude before he had trouble (not in that plane he wasn't) then he is in the clear and due damages from someone.
I’m guessing they will assess a massive fine to get it back. As much as they think he is able to pay.
They don’t need a plane (probably), so get what money they can.
Or, maybe out of spite they will keep the plane and just set fire to it.
My first thought is to endure the trial, pay a fine, fix the plane, and fly it back out.
But now I wonder if the Red Lake Reservation’s restrictions appear on FAA maps…? If they don’t, I don’t think the tribe has much claim for a violation.
LOL- Cody “Iron Eyes” he was an italian lol
Has the tribe never heard of extenuating circumstances?
Somebody’s on a serious power trip.
Good grief people, think outside the box a little.......sheesh
“The 15-minute City” the WEF wants for humanity approaches being a reservation.
they may be tryign to grow whiskey and beer
For FReepers who like/love to read...Stephen Coonts flying a Stearman to/through all 48 states - guess he didn’t come across any Indiana reservations..Sure glad he didn’t. We need him to write more books!
https://www.coonts.com/the-cannibal-queen.html
Is the pilot in this thread going to get his plane back after a hearing and will they allow him to fly it OFF their land? How will they manage to keep him out of THEIR air space as he does so?
Man, they’re tougher than the Pesky Indian tribe.
The special status for Indians must end. No more soverein nation within sovereign nation.
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