The Florida mailman who landed a gyrocopter on the U.S Capitol grounds is scheduled to make his first court appearance Thursday afternoon, the day after sending lawmakers and staff into lockdown and putting security guards on edge.
Douglas Mark Hughes, 61, said flying into the restricted airspace was a protest of campaign finance laws. Hughes, a postal worker, was arrested and taken into custody Wednesday on Capitol grounds after landing the small, lightweight device on the West Lawn. Hughes, who announced his plan on his website, said he had no intention of hurting anyone and nothing dangerous was found in the aircraft.
Thursday’s hearing will be in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia at 1:30 p.m. EDT.
Senate Homeland Security Committee chairman Ron Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican, said Thursday he’s investigating the incident and is requesting more information from federal officials.
“I am deeply concerned that someone has the ability to fly for over an hour through the most restricted airspace in our country, past the White House, and land on the lawn of the Capitol,” Johnson said in a statement.
This isn’t the first low flying aircraft to cause security concerns for government buildings. Earlier this year, a drone crashed on the White House grounds. The Secret Service determined that event was an accident — the government employee who was flying that drone recreationally, was not charged.
Last month, the Secret Service began testing drones over parts of Washington looking for possible ways to stop potentially dangerous drones, including knocking them out of the sky.