An airport employee stole a plane today in Tupelo, Mississippi, and is threatening to crash it into the local Walmart.
JUST IN 🚨 Pilot over Tupelo, Mississippi is threatening to crash plane into Walmart pic.twitter.com/7vxxNNYmYL
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) September 3, 2022
Here’s the Tupelo police department statement and what appears to be the plane’s flight path: pic.twitter.com/Ugmq9p7yB6
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) September 3, 2022
BREAKING: The pilot of a plane in Mississippi is threatening to "intentionally" crash his aircraft into a Walmart store, the Tupelo Police Department says.https://t.co/ntJokYHQAH
📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/V91adSz5mn
— Sky News (@SkyNews) September 3, 2022
Trending: Trump Boat Parade Featured Large Barge With Seven Emergency Vehicles Representing First Responders
The airport worker in Tupelo, Mississippi stole a Beechcraft C90 and is circling the city.
Fox News reported:
A pilot flying a small plane over Tupelo, Mississippi has threatened to crash into a Walmart, authorities warned Saturday.
The Tupelo Police Department said it was notified around 5 am this morning that a pilot flying what a “King Air type” airplane was considering crashing into a Walmart located on West Main street.
Authorities have confirmed the plane, which is believed to have been stolen, is a fixed wing multi-engine 1987 Beech C90A model.
Authorities said they have evacuated the Walmart and a Dodges eatery and gas station located near the shopping center to disperse people “as much as practical.”
Roads in west Tupelo and near the airport have been reopened and the pilot was last reported to be flying near a rural area in Hickory Flat, an area northeast of Tupelo, according to local coverage of the flight path.
Authorities have reportedly convened in the area.
The police department said they are in contact with the pilot who is reportedly believed to be an employee of the Tupelo Regional Airport.
The Tupelo Police Department issued this statement:
On 09-03-2022 at approximately 05:00 am TPD was notified that a pilot of an airplane (possibly King Air type) was flying over Tupelo. The pilot has made contact with E911 and is threatening to intentionally crash into Wal Mart on West Main.TPD has worked with Wal-Mart 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.
At this time the situation is ongoing with TPD and all Emergency Services in our area on alert.Citizens are asked to avoid that 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.
Update:
At approximately 08:35 am the plane is reported to be airborne north of Tupelo in the Benton, Union County Area. Local, State and Federal Authorities are continuing to monitor this dangerous situation.
Join the conversation!
Please share your thoughts about this article below. We value your opinions, and would love to see you add to the discussion!