A pilot who threatened to intentionally crash into a Walmart in Mississippi faces terrorism-related charges and did not have a license.
A statement released earlier by the Tupelo Police Department (TPD) said that around 5am local time (11am UK time) they were notified with an emergency call to the emergency services that a pilot was making the threat.
A drama ensued in which the plane flew overhead for the next five hours until it eventually fell, with the pilot rumored to have survived.
He was arrested and later named Cory Wayne Patterson, who did not have a pilot’s license but had some lessons and was an employee of Tupelo Aviation.
Authorities said he is now accused of aggravated theft (the most serious allegation of theft) and terrorist threats.
He could also face federal charges.
After the plane crashed, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves said on Twitter: “The plane over the North MS is stationary. Grateful that the situation has been resolved and that no one has been injured. Thanks largely to the forces of the United States. local, state and federal order. who handled this situation with extreme professionalism “.
An official told the AP news agency that a suspect was in custody.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that the plane landed northwest of Ripley, approximately 37 miles (57 km) from Tupelo.
The aircraft was believed to be a type of King Air propeller.
AP said he spoke with sources who claimed the plane was stolen.
The Homeland Security Department was said to have been working with several other agencies to discern a reason.
Officers were reportedly talking to the pilot while he was in the air and circling the scene at low altitude.
The plane is thought to have landed some distance from Tupelo, Mississippi, where it began circling. Image: Flightaware.com
While initially flying over Tupelo, the Daily Journal said he moved to an area near a Toyota factory in nearby Blue Springs, a situation that appeared to be confirmed by images from flight tracking websites.
Mr. Reeves had previously described it as a “dangerous situation” adding that “all citizens should be alert and aware of updates from the Tupelo Police Department.”
At the time, tens of thousands of college football fans were headed to Northern Mississippi for American football games at the University of Mississippi in Oxford and Mississippi State University in Starkville.
The threat was reported to have caused panic.
