Video: Gyrocopter pilot who landed at the Capitol pleads guilty

The Florida postal worker who landed a gyrocopter on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol in April to call attention to government corruption pleaded guilty Friday to flying without a license.

Douglas Hughes, 62, initially faced six criminal charges and nearly 10 years in prison for flying the one-person helicopter down the National Mall before landing at the Capitol on April 15.

He pleaded guilty to flying without an airman’s certificate, a felony carrying a maximum three years in prison and $250,000 fine, for altering the aircraft to be heavy enough and travel far enough for the FAA to require a pilot’s license. Hughes also agreed to forfeit the aircraft to the government as part of the plea deal.

U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly scheduled sentencing for April 13, 2016, which is nearly a year to the day after his flight. She said the government agreed to cap its sentencing request at 10 months, but she will be free to set any term up to three years because the case is so unusual. Read more

Doug Hughes - Florida Carrier

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