Claimed He Was Blinded By Runway Lights And Flipped In A Snowbank

A pilot pulling a prank of sorts was charged last week as a result of his deceitful comments on the radio, faking an accident and disrupting air traffic at Plattsburgh International Airport (PBG).

The New York Press Republican says Burlington resident Nicholas Santo, 50, faces a felony count of second-degree falsely reporting an incident and a misdemeanor count of second-degree aggravated harassment.

A Clinton County Sheriff's Department spokesman said Santo radioed that high intensity runway lights had blinded him, causing his plane to veer into a snowbank and flip over. A Cape Air flight on approach to PBG diverted as Sheriff's deputies and emergency crews looked for a wrecked plane, but none could be found.

Authorities realized the incident had been a hoax, and that the airplane they were looking for had departed earlier without difficulty. Santo's identity was traced and last week he was charged by deputies. The Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Aviation Administration, and local airport management cooperated in the investigation.

Santo was released from custody but must appear later this month in Plattsburgh Town Court to face the charges against him.

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.plattsburghinternationalairport.com