Stolen Canadian plane lands in Missouri...NORAD scrambled fighter jets...

[-Cp]

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=7273710&page=1

Personally, I think they should've shot him down:


A pilot who allegedly stole a Cessna plane from a Canadian flight school and was pursued for hours across the Midwest by fighter jets, was taken into custody after he landed on a Missouri highway late today and took off running, an FBI spokesman said.

The pilot landed the single engine Cessna 172 on U.S. Highway 60 in Ellsinore, Mo., at approximately 9:50 p.m. ET, and was caught by Missouri State Highway Patrol officers, FBI spokesman Rich Kolko said.

The pilot was identified as Yavuz Berke, formerly known as Adam Leon, a 31-year-old naturalized Canadian citizen who was born in Turkey, Kolko said.

The plane had been escorted by two F-16 fighter jets since shortly after it crossed into U.S. airspace from Canada, and the pilot did not respond to multiple requests that he establish communications with ground controllers.

Kucharek said it costs roughly $50,000 per hour/per jet to scramble F-16s. From the time the plane was initially intercepted over Lake Superior near the Michigan upper peninsula until it landed on the Missouri highway, it was followed by two F-16s for more than five hours -- a likely tab of $500,000.

[hjmick]

I'm with you, this guy should have never made as far south as Missouri.

[Jeff]

I agree, it could of been good practice for the Air force

[Little-Acorn]

Death penalty for Grand-theft-auto-with-wings.

Yup.

[Jeff]

Death penalty for Grand-theft-auto-with-wings.

Yup.

LOL, sounds like ya maybe making a new game,:laugh2: LA he could of done allot of damage with that plane, no one knew his attentions .

I myself don't agree with stealing of any kind but in some cases yes death would be a bit extreme , but not knowing what this guys intentions were I still feel they should of shot him down.

[Nukeman]

Death penalty for Grand-theft-auto-with-wings.

Yup.
Don't forget

Violating our Air space,
Ignoring a direct order form the US military
Ignoring a direct order form Air Traffic Control
Entering the US illegaly

ohhh ya VIOLATING OUR AIR SPACE...................:poke:

No one knew his intentions! If he had flown into a school or other municpal building the uproar from the public would hav been "why didn't you shoot him down in time"... Can't win for losing with some.......:slap:

[Mr. P]

Heard on the radio a few mins ago, suicide was his intent and he was looking to be shot down. True? Donno, but I know there are folks that try that with cops.

If true he'll get off on an insanity plea.

Now in reality, this may have been a test of air defenses.

[DannyR]

Personally, I think they should've shot him down

can't agree. no telling who's on the ground below and a Cessna 172 isn't all that big of a risk for hitting something. Risk of fires, cleanup from an explosion on the other hand could cost a fortune. Cessna 172 costs about 200K to replace which policy holders of the owner's insurance company would be paying.


Kucharek said it costs roughly $50,000 per hour/per jet to scramble F-16s. From the time the plane was initially intercepted over Lake Superior near the Michigan upper peninsula until it landed on the Missouri highway, it was followed by two F-16s for more than five hours -- a likely tab of $500,000.What that price ignores is that our fighters are usually flying anyway.

Shoot the guy down, and you have the cost of the aircraft PLUS the cost of cleanup.

I'm sure it was always an option though if the plane started heading for any heavily populated area.

[-Cp]

can't agree. no telling who's on the ground below and a Cessna 172 isn't all that big of a risk for hitting something. Risk of fires, cleanup from an explosion on the other hand could cost a fortune. Cessna 172 costs about 200K to replace which policy holders of the owner's insurance company would be paying.

What that price ignores is that our fighters are usually flying anyway.

Shoot the guy down, and you have the cost of the aircraft PLUS the cost of cleanup.

I'm sure it was always an option though if the plane started heading for any heavily populated area.

But we had no idea if he had it packed w/ explosives - a cessna pack w/ those could to a LOT of damage...

Yeah, it should've been shot-down - no clean-up at all cause it would've been disenigrated.. :)

[-Cp]

Pilot of Stolen Cessna Wanted U.S. Fighter Jets to Shoot Him Down

The Canadian man who led fighter jets on a chase across six states Monday flew his stolen plane into the United States. in hopes the military would shoot him down and kill him, according to a Missouri state trooper who apprehended the rogue pilot.

Missouri state trooper Justin Watson told "Good Morning America" today that 31-year-old Yavuz Berke, formerly known as Adam Leon, wanted to commit suicide, but didn't have the courage to do it himself.

"His idea was to fly the aircraft into the United States where he would be shot down," Watson said. "He stated several times that at any time he thought he was going to be shot down."

And he came close several times, Watson said.

Instead, Berke landed the single-engine Cessna 172 on U.S. Highway 60 in Ellsinore, Mo., at 9:50 p.m. ET. He made his way to a convenience store where a clerk noticed him and called police. He was found drinking Gatorade, seemingly relieved that his ordeal was over.

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=7275586&page=1

[DannyR]

But we had no idea if he had it packed w/ explosives - a cessna pack w/ those could to a LOT of damage.An average SUV can hold a lot more explosives and do a lot more damage. We don't blow people away who steal cars.

If the guy was obviously heading somewhere, I'm sure they would have shot him down. But randomly flying around, thats silly. I'd much rather the building I was in be hit by a Cessna too than a runaway Hummer. Cessna weighs a LOT less, and broader impact ratio means its slowed down faster upon striking a building, not to mention being made of extremely light materials that would crumple easily upon impact.


Yeah, it should've been shot-down - no clean-up at all cause it would've been disenigrated.. :)and in your world the laws of physics dictate that all that exploded shrapnel just vanishes? :laugh2:

[-Cp]

and in your world the laws of physics dictate that all that exploded shrapnel just vanishes? :laugh2:

No, in reality - a sidewinder would turn that thing into nothing but falling ash...

[DannyR]

No, in reality - a sidewinder would turn that thing into nothing but falling ash...Not even close. Sidewinder missiles are usually armed with fragmentary warheads. The missile explodes and sends a cloud of metal fragments shooting through the plane. The heat of the explosion is not the source of the destruction.

So you are upset we're spending half a million dollars scrambling jets, and want to throw another 100-400K expense into the mix for the missile?

[-Cp]

Not even close. Sidewinder missiles are usually armed with fragmentary warheads. The missile explodes and sends a cloud of metal fragments shooting through the plane. The heat of the explosion is not the source of the destruction.

So you are upset we're spending half a million dollars scrambling jets, and want to throw another 100-400K expense into the mix for the missile?

Did I say I was upset at any of this?

And yes, 100-400k is nothing compared to the dmg someone like that could've potentially done...