Suicide Attempt: An Hijacker Threatens to Crash Aeroplane into Supermarket
The pilot of a hijacked plane flying over Mississippi who threatened to intentionally crash into a Walmart is reported to have landed in the northern part of the state.
The allegedly stolen plane appears to be “in one piece” after touching down in a field south-west of Ashland in Benton County, according to WTVA.
The pilot, identified in local news reports citing law enforcement and airport sources as Cory Patterson of Shannon, Mississippi, is in police custody, reported Mississippi’s Daily Journal.
Patterson has earlier posted on Facebook what appeared to be a suicide note. “Sorry everyone. Never actually wanted to hurt anyone. I love my parents and sister this isn’t your fault. Goodbye,” Patterson wrote.
Authorities said the unfolding drama began at 5am local time Saturday. The Tupelo police department (TPD) issued a statement saying it had been “notified that a pilot of an airplane (possibly King Air type) was flying over Tupelo, a city in north-east Mississippi. The pilot has made contact with E911 and is threatening to intentionally crash into Walmart on West Main.”
CNN reported that the pilot is believed to a Tupelo airport employee, though it’s not known if they are certified. At around 10.30am the plane, a Beechcraft King Air 90 with two engines, nine seats, and capable of flying for four and a half hours on a full tank, was reported to be over a nearby national forest.
“TPD has worked with Walmart West and Dodges on West Main to evacuate the stores and disperse people as much as practical. TPD also has been able to begin talking with the pilot directly,” the statement added, according to WTVA.
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Authorities asked citizens to avoid the area until an all-clear is given. “With the mobility of an airplane of that type the danger zone is much larger than even Tupelo,” they warned.
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A snapshot from Flightaware showed a plane flying abstract patterns above the city. Video posted on Twitter allegedly showed the plane flying in circles over homes and businesses.
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The Mississippi governor, Tate Reeves, said in a statement: “State law enforcement and emergency managers are closely tracking this dangerous situation. All citizens should be on alert and aware of updates from the Tupelo police department.”
A spokesman for Walmart told CNN that its Tupelo Walmart store is “currently closed and evacuated”.
“We’re working closely with local investigators and are referring questions to law enforcement,” Charles Crowson, director of the Walmart press office, told CNN.
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