TRA to review security procedures

TUPELO - Tupelo Regional Airport officials will review security procedures after last weekend's incident in which a plane was stolen by a Flight-Based Operator (FBO) employee. Airport Director Joe Wheeler said those officials will be meeting with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) on Sept. 7 for a debriefing. The plane, a twin-engine Beechcraft, was stolen in the early morning hours by Cory Patterson, a 10-year employee of Tupelo Aviation, the FBO where the plane was parked. Wheeler said Patterson was a line supervisor, which meant he had a key to the FBO. Nashville-based AMS is the parent company of Tupelo Aviation, one of five FBOs in its portfolio. AMS took over management of Tupelo Aviation from the airport in a privatization move designed as a cost-saving measure. In 2017, AMS bought Tupelo Aviation for $1.45M. Wheeler said AMS will also be involved in the review of the FBO's operations. No timeline was provided as to when the review might be completed. (Source: The Dispatch 09/06/22) Tupelo Regional Airport officials to review security after stolen plane incident | Business | djournal.com