AOPA Appeals for Federal Intervention in Case of Pilot’s Plane Confiscated by Tribe
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has sought federal intervention in a case where a 1946 Stinson 108 was seized by the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians. This followed an emergency landing on tribal land in Minnesota. The incident, which took place on October 15, 2025, has sparked significant debate over airspace jurisdiction and aviation safety protocols.
Pilot Darrin Smedsmo was forced to execute an emergency landing on a state highway within the Red Lake Indian Reservation. This was after his engine failed at an altitude of approximately 3,500 feet. However, the tribal authorities impounded the aircraft. They cited Resolution No. 59-78 from 1978, which asserts tribal jurisdiction over airspace up to 20,000 feet and prohibits overflights of any aircraft—a restriction not indicated on federal aeronautical charts.
In a letter dated December 17 to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, AOPA President Darren Pleasance emphasized the exclusive federal authority over the regulation of navigable airspace, administered by the FAA. He pointed out that the state highway remains a public right-of-way, and emergency use by aircraft in distress is lawful.
The AOPA has strongly urged both federal departments to collaborate with the tribe to resolve the situation. This is to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future, thereby addressing broader aviation safety concerns.