About The Night John Salamone Rocked Pennsylvania Aviation

If prosecutors have their way, a jury in Norristown (PA) will hear a lot more about the case of John Salamone.

Salamone is the pilot from Pottstown who's accused of going on an aerial tour of the Keystone State January 15th while under the influence of alcohol. What he's charged with and what prosecutors say he actually did are two very different things.

Salamone, 44, goes on trial Tuesday, charged with reckless endangerment and risking a catastrophe. Ironically, Pennsylvania had no laws banning flying while drunk. The state's legislature has since remedied that problem.

He's charged with flying dangerously close to a nuclear plant and nearly colliding with a police helicopter in Montgomery County (PA). But prosecutors want the jury to hear the rest of the story.

In a meandering flight that lasted almost four hours, federal officials say Salamone busted Class B Airspace, came dangerously close to a nuclear facility and almost collided with a police helicopter and a US Airways flight before he landed his Piper Cherokee at Pottstown-Limerick Airport. But the way things stand now, the jury will only hear accusations of what he did over Montgomery County.

The judge has yet to rule on the prosecution's motion.

FMI: www.montcopa.org/da