Who is the pilot that hijacked a plane and threatened to crash into Walmart?
An airport employee at the Tupelo, Mississippi airport hijacked a plane and threatened to crash it into the local Walmart on Saturday morning.
On Saturday morning a Tupelo airport employee stole a plane and threatened to crash the aircraft into one of the two Walmart stores in the city. For five hours the pilot flew around before landing the plane a little after 10 am in a field southwest of Memphis.
The pilot, Cory Patterson, 29, from Shannon, was unhurt and has been taken into custody by police. Here’s what we know so far…
Early morning alert
Around 5 am police became aware that Patterson had taken a plane from the Tupelo Airport, a Beech C90A King Air, and intended to crash it into the Walmart in Tupelo after he called 911. The store located on W Main St was evacuated along with the Dodge’s store opposite the parking lot.
Although Patterson didn’t crash the plane into the Walmart, he flew the plane around in a haphazard fashion at low altitudes northwest of Tupelo. His flight path on Flight Aware looks like a squiggly line going all over the place. The lack of knowledge of what the pilot was intending to do forced the evacuation of the Toyota car plant outside of Tupelo.
The plane, owned by Southeast Aviation, ended its flight ten miles west of Ripley, Mississippi in a field. It appeared undamaged from Facebook Live video from reporter Bronson Woodruff of local TV station WTVA. Law enforcement approached the aircraft and took Patterson into custody without a struggle or incident.
Why did Cory Patterson threaten to crash into Walmart?
Details of why Patterson told police that he intended to crash into one of the two Walmart stores in Tupelo is still unclear. However, he posted a cryptic message to his parents and sister on Facebook. “Sorry everyone. Never actually wanted to hurt anyone. I love my parents and sister this isn’t your fault. Goodbye,” wrote Patterson. His Facebook page has been taken down.