June 16, 2005

When Grounding Takes on an Even More Literal Meaning

14-year-old steals aircraft from small airport

FORT PAYNE, Ala. (AP) — Police say a 14-year-old boy is in juvenile detention today after he apparently decided he wanted to fly a Cessna aircraft.

Fort Payne Police Chief David Walker said the Rainsville youngster was apparently wandering around the Fort Payne Municipal Airport when he found a set of keys inside the cockpit. [...]

Walker said the boy started the plane's engine and after driving around the runway he took off. Police estimate the teen flew about five minutes and then landed. But he took off again and flew the plane over areas of Fort Payne for nearly a half-hour.

When the boy attempted to make a second landing, he barely missed a fence. Seconds later, according to police, the plane's engine died causing it to make a hard landing on a road near the airport.

The boy, who told police it was his first-ever flight, suffered only minor injuries.[...]

You know, that could have turned out much worse.

Posted by Terry Oglesby at June 16, 2005 01:45 PM
Comments

I am NOT showing this article to my daughter.

::shudder::

Posted by: Grouchy Old Yorkie Lady at June 16, 2005 01:49 PM

You might want to check to make sure the keys to the Cessna are put away safely, too!

Posted by: Terry Oglesby at June 16, 2005 01:55 PM

Yeah, it could've been worse, but can you IMAGINE the nards on that kid?

I've only flown one time, with an instructor in the cockpit, and wanting to: Even so, my heart nearly thudded out of my chest.

I could just see him now...after the first landing, he was all, "Hey, that went better than I expected! Let's do it again."

Posted by: Jett at June 16, 2005 02:00 PM

I'm sure his biggest regret is that he didn't think of this while school was in session.

Posted by: Terry Oglesby at June 16, 2005 02:05 PM

More details on this today. The kid's apparently a clepto. Read this story: http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/news/111899978334380.xml&coll=1

Posted by: Kenny at June 17, 2005 09:01 AM

Look, just because the lad stole his grandmother's car and a stranger's airplane doesn't mean he's a thief or anything. Why, I'm sure he was just bored. Poor thing.

Posted by: Terry Oglesby at June 17, 2005 09:11 AM