Hayden man indicted for shooting at historic plane | News

HAYDEN, AL (WBRC)- A Hayden man has been indicted for shooting at a historic biplane at a private airport near his home. Today a federal grand jury indicted Jason Allen McCay, 36, with attempted interference with an aircraft, according to U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance.

McCay was arrested Thursday, July 19 in connection to an incident that happened nearly a month before his arrest. On June 22, an 81-year-old man named Fred Campbell and one of his friends took the renovated 1943 Boeing Stearman Plane on a test flight at Campbell Field, a small landing strip built and operated by Fred Campbell.

On the third test flight, witnesses say they heard several gunshots as the plane came in for landing. At least one witness described seeing McCay fire a long gun in the direction of the airplane. Officials say McCay had an ongoing feud with Campbell about the planes flying over his house, which is across the street from the private airport. Around 20 people were at the field to celebrate the historic plane's landings, the affadavit states.

The indictment alleges that McCay "willfully attempted to interfere with the authorized operation of an aircraft" flying in the U.S. and that "he did so with reckless disregard for the safety of human life," a statement from Vance says.

FBI agents and members of the Blount County Sheriff's Department arrested McCay. The FBI and Department of Homeland Security investigated the case.

"The public is reminded that an
indictment contains only charges. It is the government's responsibility to
prove a defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial," U.S. Attorney Vance said.

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