UPDATE: Pilot Who Caused Scare Identified

WSLS News Staff
AP
Published: August 18, 2008

Updated Monday 7:45 p.m.

The Franklin Co. Sheriff’s Office has identified the pilot as Sam Shields.

Updated Monday 6:20 p.m.

Roanoke Police say talks between the airport tower and the pilot showed he may have been planing to take his life.

During his time in the air the plane was spotted in the Smith Mountain Lake area and parts of Bedford County.

Police say “at not time did the pilot indicate that any specific person or facility” was at risk.

Negotiations between the pilot and the FBI convinced him to land. His identity is not being released as part of an agreement for his safe return.

The pilot was taken for a medical assessment.

No criminal charges have been placed. The FAA will review the flight protocol.

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Updated Monday 3:54 p.m.
The spokewoman with Roanoke City police, Aisha Johnson, tells us the suspect is in the custody of federal authorities.

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Updated Monday 3:03 p.m.

An FAA spokesperson tells 10 On Your Side that the plane landed at Roanoke Regional Airport just before 2:45 p.m. Monday.

The FAA says they are not sure who has the pilot in custody at this point. Roanoke Police have jurisdiction but the TSA and FBI are involved.

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Updated Monday 2:15 p.m.

Authorities asked business owners to evacuate a shopping center near Smith Mountain Lake as a small plane taken from a nearby airport circled the area.

Franklin County Administrator Rick Huff said the single-engine Cessna 172 took off from Roanoke Regional Airport about 11 a.m. Monday.

The pilot was not authorized to take the plane, he said, “and has given some indication that he intends to commit suicide in the plane.“

Huff said law enforcement officials have been in contact with the pilot and are keeping the plane in sight. Huff said the plane circled an area that included the lake and nearby counties.

Authorities made a voluntary evacuation of Bridgewater Plaza as a precaution. Huff said some of the 25 or so business owners left.

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Updated Monday 1:26 p.m.

Sherry Wallace with the airport tells 10 On Your Side the plane is a Cessna 172.

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Updated Monday 1:20 p.m.

Sherry Wallace with Roanoke Regional Airport tells 10 On Your Side the private plane taxied down the runway and took off around 10:50 a.m. without permission.

They have not had any contact with the pilot since taking off. The pilot has been flying under 200 feet, which is why the tower can not see the plane on radar.

Wallace says the plane popped up on radar a few times and other planes have seen the plane in the air.

They think the pilot is the owner of the plane.

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Original story posted at 12:48 p.m.

An FAA spokesperson tells 10 On Your Side that an aircraft took off from the Roanoke Regional Airport around 11 Monday morning without clearance from the air traffic control tower, which is required.

The FAA does not know if the plane is a commercial or private plane, how many people are on board, or where it is heading.

Stay with WSLS for more information.