Man arrested for illegally flying into the U.S. and trying to evade border authorities
Credit to Author: Tiffany Crawford| Date: Tue, 26 Nov 2019 16:55:30 +0000
A man was arrested Wednesday after authorities allege he illegally landed his airplane in the U.S. and then tried to evade authorities by flying back to Langley.
U.S. officials detected the airplane enter the U.S. and land at the Methow Valley Airport in Winthrop, WA, according to a news release from the Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations.
The agency said when agents approached the pilot to question him, he jumped into his airplane and flew away.
Agents pursued the airplane in helicopters and observed the pilot throw several bags out of the airplane into the wilderness.
As the airplane approached Canada, the U.S. Customs Border Patrol received permission to continue the pursuit across the border and followed it back to Langley, where it landed.
Langley RCMP arrested the man and seized the airplane. CBP’s helicopters remained in an over watch position during the arrest.
ticrawford@postmedia.com