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.
I used to fish upper Red Lake, but now all the walleye are gone.
“fly it back out”
I’m thinking if the tribe is willing to put this guy to all this trouble I suspect they’ll force him to hire a flatbed and truck it out.
Federal and state laws provide immunity for emergency landings even if they occur on a reservation. Chief will end up making backward tracks on this and at best might get wampum for landing and transportation fees.
“”If the area is marked as a no fly zone below a certain altitude””
Any pilots here have a Sectional they can look it up? Maybe I’ll look online for one for that area...
Well if anyone deserves reparations it is the Native Americans...
Are we going to have to play Cowboys and Indians over again?
“Red Lakers don’t play.
White man not welcome.”
Here it is - should have looked before I asked the question...
Regardless of who owns the land, the federal government has control of ALL airspace above 400 feet. 49 USC 40103 establishes that emergency landings are lawful and that FAA has exclusive control over US airspace. That’s what the tribe will FAFO. Also, tribal court is only binding on tribe members, they’ll have to go to regular civil court in order to extract any damages. They should just offer a fine and be done with it.
I’ll leave it to pilots here to read the chart - I can barely see the markings...
Agreed.
Agree absolutely...They were conquered....Period...
They get MASSIVE funding from us every year.
All airspace above the US is US controlled and it NOT owned by the tribe. He should sue them in federal court.
All of this is incorrect.
They don't control the airspace, the U.S. government controls all the airspace over the U.S. including indian reservations. He was perfectly in his right for flying where he was. A tribe passing a resolution claiming they do means about as much as Paducah KY claiming they own the airspace above it, which means absolutely zilch. They can claim whatever they want but it doesn't mean anything. The problem was when he touched down they've effectively stolen his plane but he doesn't have any real legal recourse to get it back. They'll probably hold him up for some money. If he had the means morally he'd be justified in stealing it back.
He needs a lawyer, but not just any lawyer, who’s first reaction would be to offer profuse apologies and charitable donations. They would squeeze that lemon dry in no time.
Not a good look for the savages
I think all their vehicles should be seized as soon as they leave their reservation. They should be restricted to their reservation if this is the way they’re gonna b
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