The twin-engine Beechcraft plane flew in erratic circles over the city of Tupelo and the surrounding area for hours before landing around 11:25 a.m. local time, Connie Strickland of the Benton County Sheriff’s Office told AFP.
The pilot, identified by Tupelo Police Chief John Quacka as Corey Wayne Patterson, a native of nearby Shannon, will be charged with robbery and terroristic threats, CNN reported.
In addition, Quacka noted that the pilot could face additional federal charges as the Federal Aviation Administration has indicated that it is investigating the incident.
According to Quacka, Patterson worked for Tupelo Aviation for 10 years but apparently did not have a license to fly.
In the morning, the pilot called emergency services in Tupelo “threatening to crash into the West Main Walmart,” according to a statement from the police department in the city of 40,000.
Quacka noted that police negotiators urged Patterson to land at the airport by radio. However, at the last moment the pilot diverted his course in a northwesterly direction from Tupelo.
Patterson even posted a “goodbye” message on his Facebook profile, apparently when he was running low on fuel, the police chief said.
Eventually, the pilot landed the plane in a field and informed the police of his whereabouts.
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