Pilot in custody after threatening to crash into a Mississippi Walmart

Tupelo, Mississippi - A pilot, who threatened to crash a plane into a Walmart store in Tupelo, Mississippi, has been taken into police custody after landing safely once the plane ran out of fuel.

A pilot has been taken into custody after flying a plane around Walmart for hours while threatening to crash into the store.
A pilot has been taken into custody after flying a plane around Walmart for hours while threatening to crash into the store.  © Collage: JUSTIN SULLIVAN / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP / Unsplash / @nbb_photos

It remains unclear what was behind the pilot's motive, but he has been taken into custody by authorities.

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves tweeted that the "situation has been resolved and that no one was injured."

The pilot had contacted a 911 operator and was "threatening to intentionally crash into Walmart on West Main," the Tupelo Police Department said in a statement.

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Authorities had evacuated the Walmart and a Dodges eatery and gas station located near the shopping center to disperse people "as much as practical."

According to the police, the plane started circling about 5 AM on Saturday and was still in the air more than three hours later.

The pilot was flying a King Air-type airplane, which is believed to have been stolen.

The suspect is also believed to be an employee at the Tupelo Airport who isn't thought to have a pilot's license.

Cover photo: Collage: JUSTIN SULLIVAN / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP / Unsplash / @nbb_photos

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