“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”
Pilot Douglas Mark Hughes of Ruskin, Florida, was taken into custody Wednesday evening by Capitol Police for flying his gyrocopter into secured airspace and landing it on the Capitol Hill lawn. The Federal Aviation Administration said the pilot had not been in contact with air traffic controllers and the FAA didn’t authorize him to enter restricted airspace.
The White House said President Barack Obama had been briefed on the situation.
On his website, Hughes took responsibility for the stunt and said he was delivering letters to all 535 members of Congress to draw attention to campaign finance corruption.
“As I have informed the authorities, I have no violent inclinations or intent,” Hughes wrote on his website, thedemocracyclub.org. “An ultralight aircraft poses no major physical threat — it may present a political threat to graft. I hope so. There’s no need to worry — I’m just delivering the mail.
According to Capitol Police, Hughes could face charges of violating federal aviation laws. Airspace security rules that cover the Capitol and the District of Columbia prohibit private aircraft flights without prior coordination and permission, and violators can face civil and criminal penalties.
Update: Pilot charged in federal court and released pending trial next month.
It should say former Postal Service employee since he is probably going to get fired.
H/T: CNN, Tampa Bay.com
