Wouldn’t the world be a crazy place if a 15-year-old boy walked into an airport with an AR-style rifle, demanded an aircraft, then proceeded to the airfield to planejack one himself? Well, get out your straight jackets because that’s exactly the world we live in. Thankfully, the old adage about a good guy with a gun is still a thing.
In an ordeal that lasted approximately 10 minutes, according to airport director Paul Mehrlich, an unidentified 15-year-old boy stormed the Texarkana Regional Airport in Arkansas around 7:30 AM on February 4, waving around what has been described as an AR-style rifle and demanding his own private aircraft. Police and airport officials say the teen, who was also carrying a handgun, approached the front counter at Signature Aviation, expecting access to the airfield and a plane. Kids can be so entitled these days.
Obviously upset with the lack of customer service, the soon-to-be guest of the state loaded a round in the chamber in hopes that his request might be taken more seriously. This just caused the staff to take a coffee break, and by coffee break, I mean they took off running for a back office where they locked themselves inside and called the police.
It was at this point that the young man took initiative, likely thinking that if he wanted to get anything done right, he’d have to do it himself, so he left the counter and headed to the airfield on his own to commandeer a plane, because I’m sure flying one of those works just like it does on Playstation.
Now, this type of behavior is generally frowned upon, and some might even call it alarming, but one heroic pilot found it downright obnoxious, retrieving his own firearm from his truck and confronting the 15-year-old, according to officials. The pilot ordered the young man to kiss the pavement, and in what was likely the boy’s first moment of clarity that morning, he complied.
The teen was ultimately taken into custody by the Texarkana police. Upon searching his vehicle, a shotgun was also recovered, undoubtedly enraging 12-gauge enthusiasts as they once again take a back seat to that which is considered more tacti-cool. But the real story here is the pilot, who charged into a dangerous and potentially deadly situation and ended it without injury or even any shots fired.
“The Texarkana Arkansas Police Department applauds the heroic act by the local pilot… The fact that this incident was resolved quickly and peacefully, despite the extreme danger presented, is highly commendable,” the department said in a statement.
The teen, whose motives remain unknown at this time, was not from the area, but I have it on good authority that he’ll be a resident there for a bit as he was hauled off to an Arkansas juvenile detention center, charged with aggravated assault, attempted aggravated robbery and making terroristic threats. That’s a heck of a resume for such a young fella!
“We are very thankful that there were no injuries, no lives lost, but really it was through the actions of this pilot and by the staff at Signature Aviation, that their actions saved lives,” Mehrlich told KSLA.
I guess the lesson here is pretty simple. For the love of God, don’t do that. And to the pilot who handled the situation like a boss to the extent that he won’t even need trauma therapy for ventilating a kid before he was old enough to have his first beer, well played, sir.
The puny AR was just not scary enough to gain compliance. If he had brought the fabled 12 bore he would have gotten his plane.
I had my first beer before I was 15. Also bought firearms at yard sales before that age.
What I did not do was go on a crime spree. But then I had a father, and uncles and grandfathers that loved me enough to put a boot in my ass when needed. Seems to be missing these days.
jwm,
I wonder if the pilot’s handgun was chambered in .45 ACP and the boy, recognizing that it would cause a permanent tear in the fabric of space-time, wisely choose to immediately surrender.
JWM,
Problem is the emasculated men of today only wear boots as a fashion statement, not for how they were originally intended for use. I too was as fortunate, similarly to you.
Fairies wear boots and you gotta believe me! I saw it with my own two eyes! Sorry. I thought it was the seventies again.
Gadsden Flag,
I cannot stop laughing! I can totally picture a 1970s gaey bar scene with a dude wearing a small hat, tank top, leather pants, and combat boots!
We’ll just take your word for it. Figure you’ve been there and done that.
… sorry, but if anyone was pointing a weapon of any kind at me in a crazy manner, he’d have gotten his desired conveyance to shuffle off of this mortal coyle – no departure clearance necessary.
With the lack of willingness of our society to do right by the INNOCENT members of same society, I think we as individuals SHOULD be cleared to fire in such a case.
If violent criminals didn’t get set free without real punishment, I’d feel differently. But the average prison sentence for murder these days is only 2-3 years. Violent crime won’t solve itself.
He brandished his weapon(s), and that made people fear enough for their lives that they made a run for it, and hide in the back room.
Fine, Mr. Pilot; you stopped him without ending him. Good for you. Killing somebody, even a person who deserves it, can be one of the heaviest and hardest bricks to carry in your backpack.
But I don’t understand all the gushing hero worship. The root cause of the problem has not been addressed. Not that it’s any average bear’s responsibility to end said root cause.
Good on the pilot, but this isn’t over with.
SOMEBODY will have to deal with this dumb@ss kid. It’ll probably be some little 93 year old lady who has to shoot him after he breaks into her house and kills the only thing she cares about; her husband of 60 years.
I would rather the result of this encounter be a stain to be pressure-washed off of the tarmac, so that people can stop being afraid of the most violent members of our society.
No more 3 year long life sentences in Oklahoma.
No? Do please tell me more!
“SOMEBODY will have to deal with this dumb@ss kid.”
Attempted hijacking of an aircraft is something the Fed takes *very* seriously, he won’t be a kid by the time he’s let loose.
He just earned some snazzy jewelry (handcuffs) and ‘three hots and a cot’ at his Uncle Sam’s bed-and-breakfast at the grey bar hotel…
Given that he didn’t actually hijack an aircraft I wouldn’t be shocked if the Feds let the state deal with this.
Which would mean that you’re probably correct, he’ll be an adult on release because he’ll be released at 18 or 19 since he’s <16 at the time he committed these crimes but didn't actually hurt anyone.
That is, of course, pending a psyche evaluation because this kid's behavior doesn't exactly scream "lucid!" and we have no idea about his mental state or what drugs (legal or illegal) he may have been on.
Since everyone loves to jump to conclusions on the interwebz, I'll join the party and blame Ambien.
“The fact that this incident was resolved quickly and peacefully …”
I suggest that pointing a handgun (and threatening to use it) at a violent attacker is not a peaceful resolution method. It is, however, an excellent and honorable resolution method–and greatly preferable to having to use righteous deadly force which causes severe injuries or death!
I have a feeling that as this story develops it will be reported that this young man took these weapons without permission, that he did not know how to fly, and that he was in some disordered state of mind.
You’re probably right.
But I also don’t believe for a moment that any judge will order a sanitarium visit to see what’s going on with those cobwebs in that kid’s cranium, and to determine if he should EVER be allowed to walk the streets free again.
For the social fabric to be strong, we have to be willing to do the right thing with those who can’t function in public. Even if that means that they shouldn’t be allowed in public without supervision.
TLDR thanx for info
now little Jonny will sit in detention and plan how to do it 10x worse. pieces of shit need to be buried!
The plane truth is, this was a legit DGU. The story should be flying but instead the media will ground it, as they’d rudder not talk about legit gun use. Fortunately the bad guy was just winging it and only his lawyer will be flapping his jaws next.
Props to the good guy with a gun.
He might get a year in juvie, but that’ll be about it.
That wooshing sound was you completely missing the point.
Look again.
My uncle was eaten by cannabis when he crashed his , his, the thing with wings, they whoosh, the rain in Spain falls mainly on a plane, his airship, eaten by cannabis when he, in New Gimme
“He might get a year in juvie, but that’ll be about it.”
Nope, armed hijacking is a Federal crime, he’s gone for many *years*…
Jim Simpson,
Excellent comedic element in your commentary … I tip my hat to you fine sir!
I saw what you did here, Jim. Lifts my spirits it does!
Airports = Gun Free Zone
Sad that the pilot had to retrieve the gun from their truck and wasn’t “allowed” to carry while at the airport. Probably the same outcome either way, but still sucks that as a pilot, I have to disarm at work.
If God wanted us to have guns He would have given us mag holes
If God gave us mag holes that would indicate that he wanted us to be guns.
The fact that he gave us holsters OTOH…
The terroristic threats charge is likely the heavy hitter here. Personally, I don’t find it applicable to this situation and the charge seems to be generally abused/overused by LE but whatever.
Overall, seems like a good outcome to a situation that could have gone sideways quickly and the kid seems, uh, less than balanced.
Wonderful. I will archive this story for future reference. A Good guy, a pilot, stops a “skyjacker.”
Now arm all pilots. Who want a gun.