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Adventurous breach of Area 51 restricted airspace led to pilot’s quick demise | #277
Description
An audio tape from the 1990s reveals an adventurous amateur pilot set out on a suicide mission to expose one of the world’s most well-guarded secrets before succumbing to antiaircraft fire. That is if the call was genuine.
As the story goes, an unnamed aviator attempting to reveal the secrets of Nellis Air Force base’s secret Area 51 managed to get put on air after calling into a live broadcast of the Art Bell Show from the cockpit of his aircraft.
The pilot claimed he was flying in a modified propjet aircraft and heading north into the restricted zone above Indian Springs, Nevada, while his girlfriend Jill was listening to the live broadcast.
“This crank this thing on up,” said the pilot as he headed toward the secret base at an altitude of 6,800 feet.
After crossing the demarcation line and entering the restricted airspace, the pilot made a few tight turns and descended to 100 feet AGL, holding his course.
Radio talk show host Art Bell cautioned the pilot several times, but the pilot continued his mission.
“You are making a mistake,” Bell told the flyer.
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