See how easy it is to attack stadiums

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Unk's Wild Wild West : One Thread

FBI Not Pleased With Plane Prank

Pilot, Co-Pilot Held On $30,000 Bond Posted: 5:41 p.m. CST October 30, 2001

FRIENDSWOOD, Texas -- Friendswood police were called to Friendswood Stadium shortly before 5 p.m. Tuesday after they received calls about suspicious packages being dropped from a plane.

Two 17-year-olds were allegedly flying the plane over the stadium and dropped rolls of paper towels onto the field, according to a News2Houston report.

A junior varsity football game was in progress, and several witnesses called police in a panic in light of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"I don't think it's funny at all right now," neighbor Dee Dee Race said. "It probably was just an innocent prank but people are nervous."

"Some of the girls thought it was a war thing," student Katie McCormack said.

McCormack told KPRC TV that she figured it was a prank. However, investigators from the FBI didn't find the joke funny.

"It surely appears to be a prank," said Capt. Luke Loeser of the Friendswood Police Department. "In light of what has happened over the last few months, you don't take this lightly."

The pilot, Christopher Patrick Cummings, and co-pilot, Kevin Matthew Coker, landed the Cessna 150 airplane at Clover Field and were promptly surrounded by police and taken into custody.

Cummings is from Houston, and Coker is from Friendswood.

The FBI went to the Friendswood Police Station to question Cummings and Coker.

The Federal Aviation Administration is also investigating the case.

Cummings and Coker will be charged with deadly conduct, a Class A misdemeanor. They remain in police custody and are each being held on $30,000 bond.

Cummings had just received his pilot's license five days ago.

-- (If 17 year-olds can do it @ so can. the terrorists), October 30, 2001

Answers

FAA restricts flights near World Series, nuclear plants

October 31, 2001 Posted: 1:45 a.m. EDT (0545 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Heeding the latest terrorist warning, the Federal Aviation Administration is temporarily restricting flights near the World Series games in New York and around nuclear sites.

The restrictions over New York City prohibit any aircraft operating under visual flight rules from flying within 30 nautical miles of John F. Kennedy International Airport during World Series games. The ban is in effect from 6:45 p.m. until 2 a.m. ET and lasts until midnight, November 6.

Restrictions were even tighter during President Bush's appearance at Tuesday's game.

All aircraft flying below 3,000 feet were prohibited from approaching within three nautical miles of JFK airport from 7:05 p.m. until 7:15 p.m. ET, and from 10:30 p.m. until 10:45 p.m. ET.

The nuclear sites ban, which affects 80 facilities such as power plants and Energy Department areas, restricts aircraft flying below 18,000 feet from coming within a radius of 10 nautical miles of each facility.

The restrictions underscore Attorney General John Ashcroft's announcement Monday of "credible reports" that another major terrorist attack may be possible within the week.

"The FAA realizes these restrictions inconvenience general aviation pilots and airports," said FAA Administrator Jane Garvey in a press release. "As the FAA and other federal agencies continuously review measures to ensure national security, we look for the understanding and cooperation of the general aviation community."

"Pilots must make every effort ... to avoid these sensitive areas," said Phil Boyer, president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.

-- (latest@flight.info), October 31, 2001.


"restricts aircraft flying below 18,000 feet from coming within a radius of 10 nautical miles of each facility."

BWAAHAHAHAAAA!!! That ain't gonna do shit, is it Boswell?

It would be easy for terrorists to get in there within that distance. By the time the F-16's get there it will be one big nuclear nightmare.

BTW, any of you teenage kids got any ideas about pulling pranks in my neighborhood, I'll shoot you down first and ask questions later.

-- Trigger Happy Henry (stay high @ or. die), October 31, 2001.