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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
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Posted Apr 7, 09 1:31 AM CDT
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(Newser)
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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.