Rogue pilot who threatened to crash prop plane into Mississippi Walmart taken into custody

A rogue pilot who purportedly stole a Beechcraft C90A turboprop plane at 5 a.m. this morning and threatened to crash the small private aircraft into a Mississippi Walmart, is “down,” according to a government sources who spoke to CNN on the condition of anonymity.

The crisis began at 5 a.m. local time when the pilot first notified authorities with 911 to issue the threat, according to Tupelo police officials.

“With the mobility of an airplane of that type, the danger zone is much larger than even Tupelo, the local police warned in a press release.

Area residents spent most of the morning searching the skies for the purportedly stolen plane while waiting for news from local officials. Reports indicate the pilot contacted authorities to warn them of his possible plan, and law enforcement officials coordinated clearing and closing local Walmart stores.

“Citizens are asked to avoid that area until an all clear is given,” the police wrote. “With the mobility of an airplane of that type, the danger zone is much larger than even Tupelo.”

As of 8 a.m. the crisis scenario was continuing and the plane was flying above the town of approximately 38,000 people, but police told the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal shortly thereafter that the plane flew away from the town and was flying close to a Toyota manufacturing plant in nearby Blue Springs.

At 12:10 p.m. CNN reported that the plane was now “down,” and further details are developing.