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Canadian Plane Thief Nabbed on Mo. Highway After Wild Chase

US fighter jets tracked Cessna lifted in Ontario

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 7, 2009 1:31 AM CDT
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(Newser) – The pilot of a stolen Cessna has been captured after landing the plane on a Missouri highway and attempting to flee on foot, CNN reports. The plane had been intercepted and tracked by US fighter jets since heading into American airspace shortly after it was stolen from a flight school in Ontario. The Wisconsin state capitol in Madison was briefly evacuated as the Cessna passed.

NORAD and FAA officials said the pilot—identified as a native of Turkey who took Canadian citizenship last year—ignored all efforts to hail him on radio frequencies during the five-hour pursuit. Officials said a decision was made to let the pilot "play his hand," although fighters were prepared to shoot him down if he had shown any hostile intent.

The pilot landed the plane, a Cessna 172 similar to the one pictured, on a Missouri highway before making a run for it.
The pilot landed the plane, a Cessna 172 similar to the one pictured, on a Missouri highway before making a run for it.   (©thms.nl)
The Wisconsin state capitol in Madison was evacuated as a precaution as the stolen plane passed nearby.
The Wisconsin state capitol in Madison was evacuated as a precaution as the stolen plane passed nearby.   (©Ryan Wick)
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We don't want to suppose the motive of the individual. But it certainly made a day for the professional pilots that were flying these missions and a very serious situation from a NORAD perspective. - NORAD spokesman Mike Kucharek

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