Has Been Charged With Violating National Airspace, Operating An Unregistered Aircraft

The pilot who landed his gyrocopter on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol last week has returned to his home in Ruskin, FL pending a hearing on charges stemming from the incident.

Doug Hughes, 61, is being charged with violating national airspace and operating an unregistered aircraft. Apparently the gyrocopter he flew from somewhere in Pennsylvania to Washington, D.C. did not have an "N" number.

Hughes is under house arrest in Florida. He will wear an electronic ankle bracelet to monitor his movements until his May 8th court hearing, which will take place back in Washington, D.C.

Meanwhile, the Associated Press reports that Hughes is frustrated that his message about campaign finance corruption does not seem to be getting any traction in connection with the story. He said that the county has "bigger problems" than concerns about security around the nation's capitol. He wanted his message to be about money in politics, and it turned into one about how easily he managed to fly into the area and land on Capitol Hill.

While Hughes has returend to Florida, the gyrocopter, and the 535 letters he had addressed to each member of Congress, have been confiscated.

FMI: www.dcd.uscourts.gov