Man Reportedly Tried To Steal An Aircraft From A Flight School At Gunpoint

A man who allegedly attempted to steal a helicopter from a flight school in Hillsboro, OR at gunpoint was fatally shot by police as the incident unfolded last week.

The Oregonian reports that the man was first noticed by a family who enjoys watching the aircraft come and go from Portland-Hillsboro Airport (KHIO) from outside the perimeter fence. Christopher Neal said he saw the suspect in a hoodie climb the fence and ran up to a flight instructor and student who were preparing to take off. He ordered the student out of the aircraft, firing a shot away from the helo as he did so. The student exited the aircraft, and then the gunman pointed his firearm at the instructor, and ordered him out as well. The instructor complied.

But when the hijacker got into the aircraft, employees armed with personal weapons rushed towards the aircraft and held it on the ground at gunpoint. The hijacker eventually ran from the aircraft, climbed back over the barbed-wire fence at the perimeter, and fled into a field across the street. It was there he was engaged by Hillsboro police, who shot and fatally wounded him.

The identity of the suspect has not been released, so it is not known whether he could have actually flown the helicopter had he been successful. The officer who shot him has been placed on administrative leave as is required by department policy.

Flights at the airport were halted briefly.

FMI: Original Story