Posted on 09/03/2022 8:07:03 AM PDT by Candor7
A PILOT has allegedly stolen a plane and is threatening to slam it into a Walmart, forcing police to evacuate the store, as well as nearby homes and a local Dodge dealership.
Police in Tupelo, Mississippi, where the plane is flying overhead received a call from the man around 5am Saturday when he made the threats.
The plane is believed to be a Beechcraft King Aire 90, and its erratic circular flight pattern was seen in online flight trackers.
The police have asked people to avoid the area until the all-clear is given.
"With the mobility of an airplane of that type the danger zone is much larger than even Tupelo,” the police department said.
Police confirmed to the U.S Sun they have identified the pilot, but declined to release his name at this time.
Read our King Air Plane live blog below for the latest updates...
just now
Possible airport connection
Police believe the pilot of the plane is not an employee of the Tupelo Regional Airport, as originally reported, but possibly works for a Fixed Based Operator that leases space at the Tupelo airport, the Daily Journal reported.
The Pilot has left the Tupelo area, and was flying over a rural area in Hickory Flat.
The plane is believed to be stolen.
On a full tank, it can run for at least five hours.
just now
Possible airport connection
Police believe the pilot of the plane is not an employee of the Tupelo Regional Airport, as originally reported, but possibly works for a Fixed Based Operator that leases space at the Tupelo airport, the Daily Journal reported.
The Pilot has left the Tupelo area, and was flying over a rural area in Hickory Flat.
The plane is believed to be stolen.
On a full tank, it can run for at least five hours.
just now
Governor issues a statement
"State law enforcement and emergency managers are closely tracking this dangerous situation," Governor Tate Reeves said on Twitter.
"All citizens should be on alert and aware of updates from the Tupelo Police Department."
the little plane can’t maneuver very well...should be easy.
“...we will learn that FAA had an experienced King Air pilot on the phone...”
Possibly but probably not the FAA. More likely homeland security as they use King Airs. And knowing the needs of a pilot for an aircraft like this they may have already determined where and when the thing was going to be brought down. They may also have planted the pilot in it.
A forced landing is not a sure thing with any aircraft but one of this size can be challenging fuel empty with experience at the yoke. Now that the flight is terminated and no one got hurt, it leads more and more like it was a plant. King Airs need over 4000 feet of runway for an experienced pilot to take off and land. Closer to 5000. Doubt some moron can get into one, figure out how to move it, not ground loop it on take off, bring up the gear, learn how to use the ailerons to turn the craft, and how to slow it down without stalling it bringing it down and walk away from it. Something is rotten in Denmark.
wy69
My dad was a partner in a c310 C model from 67 to 72, flying charter. Then flew a K and a late Q model (which had the rear window) for a food broker from 74-78. Then an L and a R for a trucking company from 80-82. Then an early Q for a charter fbo from 83-87. He had a lot of 310 hrs.
All through those years, opportunities popped up for me to go along (mostly in the C model). By 70 I was 16 and getting fairly competent with that 310. But I was too focused on other things to pursue a flying career. Farming can take up every bit of a man’s time, and I liked being my own boss.
I have a problem with my eyes, it’s referred to as ocular migraines. It’s a mild condition but once in a while and unexpectedly your vision is impaired by a strange arc of what looks like twinkling gemstones. It cause no damage but if the arc moves to the center of vison you can’t see the instruments at all.. not a good thing to happen at the wrong time flying alone... so no more left seat for me. :-/
I’m partial to twins and particularly the Baron but the 310 is a nice plane too, and neither are too expensive, you can at least imagine buying one... The Aerostar 700 is sweet in its way but having to worm 5 people into a tight space thru the left door is a pain! the later models could do 260 knots...
Soybean field, not corn, popped or otherwise.
If nothing else a well placed drone at an engine would do the trick
Well popped soybeans then!
https://youtu.be/7otgVXJiRkQ?t=156
Final countdown 1980. Two Navy F-14s do just that to a couple of Zero replicas. You can see the effect it had. Those guys actually lost control for a moment and said it was spooky. It’s in the special features on the DVD.
I saw that movie.
No need to lead that target, just aim at the prop and it’ll hit about the windshield.
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