The FAA said that a small plane that spent hours Saturday morning circling over Tupelo, Mississippi, and its environs, finally made an emergency landing in a field in Ripley, Mississippi. The pilot, who police claimed threatened to fly the stolen plane into a Walmart in Tupelo, is in jail,
Tate Reeves, the governor, tweeted that he was “grateful the issue has been settled and that no one was wounded.” “I would especially like to thank local, state, and federal police enforcement for handling this issue with such professionalism.”
According to Tupelo Police, the pilot made contact with 911 at 5 a.m. local time and issued the threat.
The danger zone is far greater than even Tupelo, according to authorities, who stated in a news release early on Saturday morning.
According to FAA data that match a registration number verified to CNN by the source familiar with the issue, the aircraft is a twin-engine Beechcraft C90A turboprop. According to the source, the plane was taken.
According to a previous statement from authorities, the jet was north of Tupelo at about 8:30 a.m. local time.
CNN was informed by a government source with knowledge of the incident that the aircraft was later seen flying over the Holly Springs National Forest.
Charles Crowson, the director of the Walmart Press Office, tells CNN that the Tupelo Walmart location is “now closed and evacuated.”
He continued, “We’re collaborating closely with neighbourhood detectives and directing inquiries to law enforcement.”
The Federal Aviation Administration writes in an email to CNN on Saturday morning that it “is aware and is collaborating with local law enforcement.”
According to a spokeswoman, the incident response is being handled by the FBI field office in Jackson, Mississippi.
