The strange incident began to unfold around 5 a.m. and details are scarce, but police said the pilot had called 911 and was in contact with them. Authorities evacuated buildings on West Main Street in Tupelo as the twin-engine turboprop looped through the sky, but officers warned the situation could turn ugly quickly. “Citizens are asked to avoid this area until it has been given the all clear. “With the mobility of an airplane of this type the danger zone is much larger than even Tupelo,” the police department said in a statement. Around 9 a.m., the plane left Tupelo airspace and traveled northwest toward Pine Grove, where it was seen circling again. Data from FlightAware indicated that the aircraft in question is a Beechcraft King Air 90 turboprop owned by a local urologist – although there were reports that it had been stolen from Tupelo Airport. The Tupelo Daily Journal reported that the pilot was believed to be an airport employee, although the suspect’s complaint is unclear. “Law enforcement and emergency managers are closely monitoring this dangerous situation,” Gov. Tate Reeves said in a statement. “All citizens should be alert and aware of updates from the Tupelo Police Department.”
