A Bethel man has been arrested on a charge of reckless endangerment after he allegedly grabbed the controls of a small airplane landing in Emmonak, forcing the pilot to take evasive action to avoid a crash, according to Alaska State Troopers.

Derek Atchak, 20, was arrested Friday at a Nunam Iqua home following the incident, troopers said.

Troopers say Grant Aviation called them about 1 p.m. March 22 to report Atchak, the sole passenger on the flight from Emmonak to Nunam Iqua, had grabbed the controls on final approach to the airstrip and forced the pilot to take evasive action.

It wasn’t immediately clear why he grabbed the controls.
The airplane landed safely and Atchak fled the scene once it was on the tarmac, troopers said. He was arrested several days later and booked into the Yukon Kuskokwim Correctional Center with bail set at $2500.

— Anchorage Daily News