When he flew a stolen jet over Mississippi for five hours and threatened to CRASH into Walmart, a 29-year-old man lacked a pilot’s license and landing experience.
Cory Patterson, 29, had had some flight instruction but lacked landing experience and a pilot’s license, according to Saturday’s statement by officials.
Patterson was arrested and accused with grand theft and making terroristic threats after the irregular Tupelo Regional Airport takeoff.
He got access to the twin-engine Beechcraft King Air C90A because he was an airport employee responsible for fuelling aircraft.
The stolen plane took off at 5 a.m., prompting the evacuation of a nearby Walmart after Patterson allegedly threatened to crash it into the establishment.
Patterson crash-landed the plane in a field near Gravestown after several hours.
The student pilot wrote a disturbing statement on social media, claiming he “never intended” to harm anyone.
Authorities confirmed that the man who reportedly stole an airplane and threatened to crash it into a Mississippi Walmart lacked a pilot’s license and landing experience.
Saturday’s irregular takeoff from Tupelo Regional Airport resulted in the arrest of 29-year-old Cory Wayne Patterson, who was charged with grand theft and making terroristic threats.
Tupelo Police Chief John Quaka stated during an afternoon press conference that despite Patterson’s flight training, he lacks a pilot’s license. Patterson is an airport employee whose job entails refueling aircraft.
Patterson’s position at the airport provided him access to the twin-engine Beechcraft King Air C90A that he is suspected of stealing and using to circle Mississippians for five hours.
Quaka stated that a local Walmart was evacuated at 5:20 a.m. after Patterson contacted 911 and indicated that he intended to fly the plane into the store.
Patterson was apprehended by authorities when he crash-landed in a soybean field after many hours in the air.
Cory Patterson, 29, was arrested and charged with grand larceny and making terroristic threats following a Saturday flight from Tupelo Regional Airport in Mississippi, during which he allegedly threatened to crash the aircraft into a local Walmart.
Patterson was apprehended by authorities when he crash-landed in a soybean field after many hours in the air.
Shortly after writing a farewell message to his parents and sister on Facebook, Patterson landed with no injuries, authorities said at a press conference. The message stated that he never intended to damage anyone.
“I apologize to everyone. Never intended to physically harm someone. It’s not your fault that I adore my parents and sister; this is not your fault. Goodbye,’ said the Facebook statement written by Patterson around 9:30 a.m.
During the flight, police negotiators were able to contact Patterson and encourage him to land, but he did not know how. He was guided by a private pilot into nearly landing at the Tupelo airport, but investigators say he aborted the effort in the nick of time and resumed flight.
Quaka stated that a negotiator reestablished contact with Patterson at 10 a.m. and found he had landed safely in a field.
Tupelo’s mayor, Todd Jordan, deemed the settlement ‘the best-case scenario’ after a morning of anxiously observing the plane’s erratic flight path.
There were no injuries.
Patterson is claimed to have taken off from Tupelo Airport at 5 a.m. on Saturday and circled Mississippi for five hours before crashing.
He uploaded a message on social media while still in the air, saying ‘goodbye’ and adding that he had “never genuinely intended to damage anyone.”
Patterson, however, had access to the twin-engine Beechcraft King Air C90A that he is suspected of stealing and spending five hours circling the sky in.
The plane landed in the vicinity of Ripley, Mississippi, approximately 85 miles (140 kilometers) southeast of Memphis, Tennessee, and approximately 45 miles (70 kilometers) northwest of Tupelo.
Police described Patterson’s theft as a “crime of opportunity” because the airport tower was unattended at the time of the incident and Patterson had easy access to the airport.
Patterson contacted police at 5:08 a.m. to inform them of his intentions, and remained in contact with them for some time before severing ties.
The neighborhood Walmart was evacuated when the alarm was sounded (Rachel McWilliams via AP)
Patterson circled the Walmart store, and witnesses reported that it then went to the Toyota plant in Blue Springs before being sighted in Ripley.
Patterson was charged with grand theft and making terroristic threats, according to his Facebook profile. Quaka stated that federal authorities could also file charges.
Patterson, according to Mayor Jordan, contacted family members during the journey. The mayor expressed hope that Patterson will receive the necessary assistance.
Peter Goelz, a former managing director at the National Transportation Safety Board, stated that security experts have been concerned for years about the vulnerability of small airports that cater to small flights and business jets.
He stated, “If you have a trained pilot who can board a business jet, you have a pretty devastating weapon.”
Patterson, according to Mayor Jordan, contacted family members during the journey. The mayor expressed hope that Patterson will obtain the necessary assistance.
Roxanne Ward, a resident of Ripley, told The Associated Press that she had been watching the plane online and had gone to her father-in-house law’s with preparations to seek shelter in the basement. She reported hearing the impact of the jet landing on her father-in-property. law’s
She and the others rode over on four-wheelers.
“As soon as it crashed, police were ready,” Ward, who observed from a distance, said. The police lured him out of the house. They cried, “Up your arms!” at him. She stated that the pilot exited the aircraft without resisting police.
Patterson was charged with grand theft and making terroristic threats, according to his Facebook profile. Quaka stated that federal officials could possibly file charges.
The plane lays in a soybean field after crashing near Ripley (AP)
Then, Governor Tate Reeves tweeted that the crisis had been resolved: “The plane over North Mississippi has crashed.” Thankful the situation has been settled and that no one was wounded.
Local, state, and federal law enforcement handled this issue with the highest degree of professionalism.
We are collaborating closely with local investigations and submitting all inquiries to law police.