Pilot Fled On Foot After Flying Into US

ANN REALTIME UPDATE 04.06.09 2245 EDT: The US Department of Homeland Security reports Yavuz Burke, a 31-year-old Turkish-born man who became a Canadian citizen last year, has been caught by police in Missouri, after landing a stolen airplane on a highway near Ellsinore.

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association -- an organization particularly sensitive to highly-publicized incidents involving GA planes -- termed the incident a "rare and unusual event."

"We commend US and Canadian security and defense officials for bringing a conclusion to the rare and unusual event involving a stolen aircraft," said AOPA President Craig Fuller. "The aircraft was detected immediately and the authorities took the appropriate actions.

"While there remains more to learn, the handling of this incident demonstrates the effectiveness of today's security procedures."

Burke -- who was previously known as Adam Leon, reports CNN -- is now in custody. His motive for stealing the small Cessna from an Ontario flight school, and then flying for several hours in US airspace without contacting ATC, or the pilots of two F-16s in trail, is not presently known.

Original Report

2215: The pilot of a stolen Cessna 172 has landed the aircraft on a highway near Ellsinore, MO after flying around for several hours, and leading to the evacuation of the Wisconsin state capitol.

ABC News reports the aircraft departed Confederation College in Thunder Bay, Ontario at approximately 1500 CDT Monday, and entered American airspace over Michigan's Upper Peninsula about a half hour later.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) scrambled two F-16 fighter jets after the plane entered US airspace without contacting ATC, and intercepted the plane at approximately 1643 CDT while over Minnesota.

The fighters trailed the aircraft as it overflew Wisconsin, Illinois and Missouri, with the pilot reportedly ignoring 15 demands from the military to land the plane. Officials evacuated the Wisconsin state capitol building in Madison as the plane flew nearby, though it doesn't appear the pilot made any overtly threatening moves.

CNN reports the aircraft landed on a highway near Ellsinore, approximately 700 nautical miles south of its origination point, presumably due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot -- described by officials as "an obviously unhappy individual" -- reportedly fled the scene on foot, and remains on the run.

A representative with the school's Aviation Centre of Excellence confirmed to ABC the aircraft was stolen from its facility. Reports indicate the unidentified individual may have been a student at the school.

ANN will provide continuing updates on this developing story. Stay tuned.

FMI: www.confederationc.on.ca/ace/simulator.asp