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Sky Kings: Innocent Pilots Face Down Guns, Handcuffs

The ramp of an airport makes for an unlikely traffic stop, and it proves to be pointless. VDB Photos/Shutterstock
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The author and Martha were subjected to a high-risk police stop, including drawn weapons and handcuffs, after landing, due to an erroneous report that their airplane was stolen.
  • The incident stemmed from an outdated government crime database (El Paso Intelligence Center/FBI NCIC) that failed to reflect the FAA's reassignment of the aircraft's registration number, linking their current plane to a previously stolen, different aircraft.
  • This was not an isolated incident, highlighting systemic issues with uncorrected databases and a lack of police understanding of aviation procedures, leading to unnecessarily dangerous confrontations for innocent pilots.
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We taxied up in front of the line of four police cars as we were directed by ground control, instead of to the FBO where our friends were waiting. Martha said, “This is going to be interesting.” As we shut down the engine, we heard the bullhorn aimed at us and a voice: “Pilot, very slowly open your door. Pilot, very slowly stick both hands out the door and come out very slowly.”

Martha and I take turns flying and each can fly from either seat. In this case, I was not particularly eager to declare myself as the pilot. Finally, I “agreed” to be the pilot.

John King

John King started King Schools Inc., with his wife, Martha, in a spare bedroom of their home. Today, the school operates out of a dedicated complex in San Diego, California, that includes a video and software production facility. John and Martha have shared flying and teaching aviation for more than 50 years.

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