Talked Down By Controller And Arrested On Landing

A former student pilot allegedly stole an airplane from North Las Vegas Airport at about midnight Friday, and the exchange between the pilot and air traffic controllers who talked him down was captured by liveatc.net.

ABC News reports that the pilot was 27-year-old Evan Grant (pictured in Las Vegas police booking photo). There was no reason given for why he took the unauthorized flight in the aircraft, other than for a "joyride", but after about an hour in the air, an air traffic controller calmly convinced Grant to land the twin-engine aircraft.

According to the transcript, Grant said to the controller "I kind of screwed up your night, didn't I?" The controller, who was not identified, said "I just want to get you down on the ground safely. We'll grab some coffee, go to my house, whatever. We'll have a -- we'll just talk, OK? Just come on down."

After agreeing to land, Grant lamented to the controller that he would never fly an airplane again. "I've already committed enough felonies. I can't believe I'm never going to do this again." The controller tried to reassure him that he would someday fly again.

Grant was arrested by North Las Vegas police after landing, and booked into Las Vegas city jail on a charge of grand larceny auto.

FMI: https://www.cityofnorthlasvegas.com/Departments/Police/Police.shtm, www.faa.gov