Pilot stops armed teenager who demanded plane at Arkansas airport, police say
Pilot stops armed teenager who demanded plane at Arkansas airport, police say
A teenage boy who brandished two firearms and demanded a plane at a southwestern Arkansas airport was arrested after being confronted by a local pilot, authorities said.
Police received reports of a disturbance at Signature Aviation, a business that provides aviation services at the Texarkana Regional Airport in Arkansas, at around 7:35 a.m. local time on Tuesday, the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department said. A witness saw the teen, armed with both a handgun and an AR-style rifle, enter the airport from the general aviation side, according to police and the airport.
While brandishing the two firearms, the teen walked to the front counter and began demanding a plane, police said. The witness fled the scene and alerted others, police added.
A pilot for a local private business then confronted the teenager after he exited the business, according to police. The pilot retrieved a firearm from his truck and "began ordering the suspect on the ground," police said.
During the confrontation, the teenager, who was disarmed, complied, according to police. Officers later arrived at the scene and took the teen into custody.
"The Texarkana Arkansas Police Department applauds the heroic act by the local pilot," police said in a statement. "The fact that this incident was resolved quickly and peacefully, despite the extreme danger presented, is highly commendable."
The teen, whose name was not released, was arrested for aggravated assault, attempted aggravated robbery, and first-degree terrorist threatening, according to police. He was transferred to an Arkansas juvenile detention center after his arrest.
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Airport promises to improve security system after incident
Following the incident, the Texarkana Regional Airport said it was open and secure, and that no one was injured during the incident.
"Thankfully, between the actions of the Signature FBO staff and a local pilot (the suspect) was subdued quickly without any injuries," the airport said in a statement. "We thank everyone for their quick actions and doing their part to keep our community safe."
Paul Mehrlich, the airport's director, told local television station KSLA News 12 that while the airport had safety measures, they "will find ways to improve our systems."
'And we feel it did work in the way it's supposed to, but of course, any time you have an incident like this, we find ways to improve it, make it faster," Mehrlich told the television station. "If you can shave 10 to 15 seconds off, that can mean more lives saved in the future."
The Texarkana Regional Airport is the primary airport for the twin cities of Texarkana, Arkansas, and Texarkana, Texas. In 2019, the Texarkana Gazette reported that a man allegedly tried to steal a plane to see a concert in Illinois and was arrested after he was found sitting in the pilot's seat in the cockpit.
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