What: single-engine Piper en route from Florida to Louisiana
Where: Galliano Airport
When: Thursday morning
Who: Ricky Navarro, 62, of Riverview, Fla.
Why: Ricky Navarro was flying near the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP) facility offshore and ventured into restricted airspace at which point Harbor Police were unable to reach him on the radio. He was “given” an escort of F-15’s to the Galliano airport. All because Navarro had forgotten to turn on his radio.

Navarro was released.

George’s Point of View

Let’s look at the predecessors to this event.

-911
-Banker Marcus Schrenker faking his death in a plane
-semi-suicidal Turkish Canadian Adam Dylan Leon flying from Canada to the US
-Brazilian father who abducted his 5 year old daughter and flew his stolen plane into a mall

I’m not saying these events are directly linked. I’m just saying that the rate of air events of this nature is disturbingly frequent. Our brave, free-minded and patient fighter pilots who pursue flying fools can only keep their finger off the button for so long. Kamakaze-minded idiots keep testing the waters, doing stupid things and putting themselves and others in danger

On the day we ever inch closer to war, there will not be a US resident who will blame the soldier for pushing the button the next time someone forgets to turn on their radio.

Ricky Navarro, if you’re going to be that negligent–rookie mistake or not–you don’t need to be flying. The cockpit is no place for carelessness.