Authorities in Tupelo, Mississippi announced early Saturday that the pilot who had threatened to ram a stolen plane into Walmart was arrested without major incident.
According to the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, the small plane was operated by Tupelo Airport employee Cory Patterson.
The “King Air type” aircraft is believed to have been stolen before reports of the threats emerged at around 5 a.m.
Upon learning of Patterson’s intentions, authorities evacuated the targeted Walmart and several businesses surrounding it.
Patterson reportedly headed northeast of Tupelo after being contacted by police. He eventually landed in a field in Ashland, nearly 60 miles northeast of Tupelo.
“The plane over North MS is down,” Gov. Tate Reeves said. “Thankful the situation has been resolved and that no one was injured.”
“Thank you most of all to local, state, and federal law enforcement who managed this situation with extreme professionalism.”
