The Tupelo Police Department said in a Facebook post that Walmart and a nearby convenience store had been evacuated. The plane began circling over the city of Tupelo around 5 a.m. local time. It was still in the air about four hours later, but had flown away from Tupelo and circled over another community nearby. Police said they made direct contact with the pilot. “Citizens are asked to avoid this area until it is completely clear,” police wrote. “With the mobility of an airplane of this type the danger zone is much larger than even Tupelo.” Law enforcement said shortly after 8 a.m. that the stolen plane had left the airspace around Tupelo and was flying near a Toyota manufacturing plant in nearby Blue Springs.
“Dangerous Situation” Monitoring
An online flight tracking service showed a circuitous route for the plane. “State law enforcement and emergency managers are closely monitoring this dangerous situation,” Gov. Tate Reeves tweeted. “All citizens should be alert and aware of updates from the Tupelo Police Department.” Leslie Criss, a magazine editor who lives in Tupelo, woke up early and tracked the situation on television and social media. Several of her friends were outside watching the plane circle overhead. “I’ve never seen anything like this in this city,” Criss told The Associated Press. “It’s a scary way to wake up on a Saturday morning.” Former state Rep. Steve Holland, who is a funeral director in Tupelo, said he has received calls from families concerned about the plane. “Someone called and said, ‘Oh my God, do we have to cancel mother’s funeral?’ Holland said. “I just told them, ‘No, life will go on.’
