The pilot who stole a plane in Mississippi then threatened to crash into a Walmart has been arrested
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Tupelo Police Chief John Quaka identified the pilot as Cory Wayne Patterson, an employee of Tupelo Aviation for 10 years.
Patterson had a background in piloting an airplane. He would have refueled the plane the day before the offence.
Then, on Saturday, around 5 a.m., he allegedly called 911 to threaten to crash into a Walmart in the city of Tupelo.
The store in question was evacuated and then closed. Mediators from the Tupelo Police Department tried to convince the escaped pilot to land at the local airport, but to no avail.
At the last minute, Patterson swerved from his intended landing to resume his ride.
More than four hours following the dodge attempt, the fugitive made a Facebook post saying goodbye, Quaka told CNN.
“At that time, we knew he was almost out of gas,” added the police chief.
Patterson eventually landed in a nearby field, where authorities were able to arrest him. He is charged with first degree robbery and threatening terrorism.
According to John Quaka, the federal government might interfere in the case.
