ADDISON, Texas – A stolen plane crashed near the Texas-Oklahoma border, resulting in the death of the pilot, officials said. The Texas Department of Public Safety reported that the Cessna 172 was stolen from the ATP Flight School at Addison Airport, located about 15 miles north of downtown Dallas. The pilot, identified as 23-year-old Logan Timothy James of Stokesdale, North Carolina, flew the plane more than 80 miles northeast toward Paris, Texas, before it crashed near the state border.
According to Addison Airport, the plane departed at 6:53 p.m. and went down about 8:26 p.m. local time in an open field 9 miles northeast of Telephone, Texas. James was the only person on board. It is unclear whether the pilot radioed for help or declared an emergency before the crash. An air traffic control recording captured an exchange about his plans, in which James stated, “About right now you’ll probably realize that I’m not going to listen to y’all’s instructions and I’m just heading to East Texas.”
The National Transportation Safety Board, with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration, is leading the investigation. The circumstances surrounding the theft of the plane and the intentions of the pilot remain under scrutiny. The tragic incident has left authorities and the aviation community searching for answers. The impact of this event has raised concerns about airport security and measures to prevent unauthorized individuals from gaining access to aircraft. The investigation into the theft and subsequent crash will aim to provide clarity and insight into the series of events that led to this unfortunate outcome.