US Pilot arrested
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 317
Likes: 2
From: long island
US Pilot arrested
Television reports in US this evening report a private pilot was arrested after flying a piper cherokee for four hours in the vicinity of Philadelphia and Atlantic City, reportedly as low as fifty feet above Phil airport, requiring evasive action by one biz jet and rerouting of several additional inbounds.
[If this is wrong forum, please move with my apologies]
[If this is wrong forum, please move with my apologies]
?
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 317
Likes: 2
From: long island
According to Bob Orr of CBS, he was followed by a police helicopter to Pottstown Limerick airport and placed under arrest when it was found he had been drinking, apparently substantially.
To me, one of the more upsetting aspects of this story was the editorial addition by the reporter that he wondered why the government had not 'shot him down'.
This same reporter the prior night had done a 'piece' on the lax security at a fly in community in Virginia and the 'terrible threat' to security posed by general aviation aircraft. What made this [IMO]factually inaccurate and nearly hysterical piece even more upsetting was the fact that News World International chose to pick up the piece and run it themselves today, which I find a considerable departure from their usual more well reasoned brand of reporting.
To me, one of the more upsetting aspects of this story was the editorial addition by the reporter that he wondered why the government had not 'shot him down'.
This same reporter the prior night had done a 'piece' on the lax security at a fly in community in Virginia and the 'terrible threat' to security posed by general aviation aircraft. What made this [IMO]factually inaccurate and nearly hysterical piece even more upsetting was the fact that News World International chose to pick up the piece and run it themselves today, which I find a considerable departure from their usual more well reasoned brand of reporting.
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 474
Likes: 0
From: U.S.A.
Yeah, this is just what general aviation needs now, a story like this.....
Updates at www.philly.com
Small plane pilot to face charges
By Marc Schogol
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
Charges are to be filed against a Pottstown man who flew his small plane into restricted airspace over Philadelphia International Airport yesterday, was followed by a police helicopter and finally landed at an airport near the Limerick nuclear power station.
Montgomery District Attorney Bruce L. Castor said today that his office is preparing DUI charges against John Salamone, 44, of Temple Road in Pottstown.
Philadelphia Police said that between 6:15 and 10:15 p.m. yesterday, Salamone's Cherokee aircraft came into Philadelphia International Airport's air space, close to approach areas for other aircraft and as close as 100 feet to the ground.
The plane then flew across the river into South Jersey, over Camden, the Cross Keys area and down to Atlantic City, where it turned around and retraced its path back towards the airport, police said.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) tower personnel at Philadelphia International tried to get the plane to land there, Northeast Airport, Wings Field and other area airfields, according to police.
With the Philadelphia police helicopter following closely, police said the plane eventually landed at its home field - the Pottstown-Limerick Airport in Montgomery County - not far from the Limerick nuclear power station.
The pilot was immediately arrested. Police said that in addition to Montgomery County authorities, the FBI and the federal Department of Homeland Security also is investigating.
Updates at www.philly.com
Small plane pilot to face charges
By Marc Schogol
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
Charges are to be filed against a Pottstown man who flew his small plane into restricted airspace over Philadelphia International Airport yesterday, was followed by a police helicopter and finally landed at an airport near the Limerick nuclear power station.
Montgomery District Attorney Bruce L. Castor said today that his office is preparing DUI charges against John Salamone, 44, of Temple Road in Pottstown.
Philadelphia Police said that between 6:15 and 10:15 p.m. yesterday, Salamone's Cherokee aircraft came into Philadelphia International Airport's air space, close to approach areas for other aircraft and as close as 100 feet to the ground.
The plane then flew across the river into South Jersey, over Camden, the Cross Keys area and down to Atlantic City, where it turned around and retraced its path back towards the airport, police said.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) tower personnel at Philadelphia International tried to get the plane to land there, Northeast Airport, Wings Field and other area airfields, according to police.
With the Philadelphia police helicopter following closely, police said the plane eventually landed at its home field - the Pottstown-Limerick Airport in Montgomery County - not far from the Limerick nuclear power station.
The pilot was immediately arrested. Police said that in addition to Montgomery County authorities, the FBI and the federal Department of Homeland Security also is investigating.
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Philly
This report made me post for the first time. I am familiar with both the pilot and the final destination airport (PTW) in question. While the pilot made an absolutely terrible error in judgement and deserves the weight of the law coming down on him, I could not believe the outcry that ensued following this incident.
I had my parents call me from Ireland (I live in PA) and ask me about the pilot that was trying to crash into airliners and the nuclear power plant.
Please, stop the madness. This guy apparently flew through PHL class B and caused ATC to take notice (twice, once on the way to ACY and once on the way back). ATC requested him to land at PHL, northeast and wings field. The guy fled to PTW before circling the field a bunch of times ( The field is adjacent to a nuclear power plant) prior to landing.
I hope that he bears the full brunt of the law as far as flying under the influence of alcohol. I also hope that he has learned a valuable lesson. But the implication that came through the media such as where were the F16's and why wasn't this guy shot down were a little over the top.
A fine job was done by ATC and law enfocement to divert traffic and get an ass**le pilot back on the ground. Please dont let it go any further than that.
Respectfully
Warrior042
I had my parents call me from Ireland (I live in PA) and ask me about the pilot that was trying to crash into airliners and the nuclear power plant.
Please, stop the madness. This guy apparently flew through PHL class B and caused ATC to take notice (twice, once on the way to ACY and once on the way back). ATC requested him to land at PHL, northeast and wings field. The guy fled to PTW before circling the field a bunch of times ( The field is adjacent to a nuclear power plant) prior to landing.
I hope that he bears the full brunt of the law as far as flying under the influence of alcohol. I also hope that he has learned a valuable lesson. But the implication that came through the media such as where were the F16's and why wasn't this guy shot down were a little over the top.
A fine job was done by ATC and law enfocement to divert traffic and get an ass**le pilot back on the ground. Please dont let it go any further than that.
Respectfully
Warrior042
