When 18-year-old Zemarcuis Devon Scott was arrested at Texarkana Regional Airport in Arkansas on July 4, he said he wanted to fly a stolen plane to attend a rap concert in a different state.
Scott was caught sitting in the pilot’s seat at 2:30 am when officers shined a light into the cockpit of an American Eagle twin-engine jet. One of the officers drew his weapon and ordered Scott to keep his hands in plain sight.
Two of the three officers on the scene opened the cockpit door while a third monitored Scott until he was arrested.
When questioned about how he would take off, operate and land the jet, Scott commented that he didn’t anticipate there was much more to flying the plane than “pushing buttons and pulling levers.”
On August 1, Scott was charged with commercial burglary and attempted theft of property with a value greater than $25,000, both felonies. If convicted, he is liable to spend between three and 10 years in prison and a fine not to exceed $10,000.
