Pilot Threatening To Crash Plane Into Mississippi Walmart—Store Evacuated, Police Say

Topline

A Walmart in Tupelo, Mississippi, has been evacuated after a pilot threatened to crash an airplane into the store, according to police.

Key Facts

The Tupelo Police Department said it received a call at around 5 a.m. Central time from a pilot making threats, and police have remained in contact.

Police say the airplane appeared to be a Beechcraft King Air, a twin-engine turboprop that is commonly used for personal and corporate flights.

A flight tracking site shows a King Air flying erratic loops over the Tupelo area Saturday morning.

Gov. Tate Reeves (R) tweeted that state law enforcement agencies are also “closely tracking this dangerous situation.”

It’s not clear what motive the man has for threatening to crash into the Walmart.

Crucial Quote

“With the mobility of an airplane of that type the danger zone is much larger than even Tupelo,” Tupelo police said.

Key Background

Tupelo is a small city in northeast Mississippi, with a population of just under 38,000 people, according to the Census Bureau.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2022/09/03/pilot-threatening-to-crash-plane-into-mississippi-walmart-store-evacuated-police-say/