US man charged after threat to fly plane into Walmart

A US man who stole a small aeroplane and threatened to fly it into a Walmart shop has been charged with grand theft and making terroristic threats.

Cory Wayne Patterson was arrested after landing in a field, having circled near Tupelo, Mississippi, for hours.

The Walmart was evacuated while police spoke to him in mid-air.

The City Police said the suspect worked at the local airport but is not believed to hold a pilot's licence.

However, he is known to have received some flight instructions.

Shortly after taking control of the plane, the suspect phoned 911, saying he was planning to fly into a branch of Walmart.

The threat prompted an evacuation of the building and other nearby shops as officers warned of a "dangerous situation".

[Source: BBC News]