Pilot in Tupelo, Mississippi, lands after threats, governor says
Authorities say a small plane landed safely in Mississippi after a man stole it, flew erratically and at one point threatened to crash into a Walmart.
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves announced on Twitter that “The situation has been resolved and no one is injured. “The plane landed and the subject was taken into custody, according to Connie Strickland, Benton County Sheriff.
Tupelo’s Sheriff John Quaka said at a news conference Saturday afternoon the plane’s pilot had been charged with petty theft and making terroristic threats. Quaka said the man did not have a pilot’s license but had some flight instruction.
The subject, Cory Wayne Patterson, had been an employee of Tupelo Aviation for 10 years, police said.
Quaka said the man could also face federal charges.
Earlier, Saturday morning, Reeves warned residents near Tupelo, Mississippi, to “watch out” after police said a small plane pilot over town threatened to crash into a Walmart store.
The plane began to circle around Tupelo, Mississippi, around 5 a.m. ET. Hours later, police said the plane was moving north of the city.
According to a police statement, the plane’s pilot “has been in contact with (911) and is threatening to intentionally crash into the Wal Mart on West Main.”
According to police, Walmart and another nearby store were told to evacuate.
Leslie Criss, a magazine editor living in Tupelo, wakes up early and is monitoring the situation on TV and social media. Some of her friends were outside watching the plane circle overhead.
“I have never seen anything like this in this town,” Criss said. “It’s a scary way to wake up on a Saturday morning.”
Contribution: Associated Press