Intoxicated Man Arrested After Crashing Plane at Florida Airport, Was Told Not to Take Off

A pilot stands accused of flying drunk and child abuse following an incident at Melbourne International Airport.

A Florida man was arrested on charges of recklessly operating an aircraft and child abuse without great harm after crashing his plane into a building at Melbourne International Airport (MLB) Wednesday. WKMG reports Christopher Hall, 57, was taxiing the Cessna 337F with his son when the aircraft clipped a communications antenna shed.

According to reports, air traffic controllers became concerned when Hall did not respond to their instructions and began moving the aircraft without tower clearance. Orlando cable news station News 13 reports when Hall did respond to the air traffic control tower, his his speech was allegedly slurred. The air traffic controller then instructed Hall to re-file his flight plan and contact the tower when he was ready to taxi. When Hall did not comply, the air traffic controller told him to kill the engines.

By that time, WKMG reports the Cessna had already taxied past runways and into a restricted area. The attempted flight came to an end when the aircraft collided with a communications antenna shed and Hall was arrested by airport police. Neither Hall nor his son were injured .

News 13 reports Hall did not submit to a breathalyzer test, but a police report noted he smelled of alcohol at the time of arrest. Hall was booked into the Brevard County Jail but has since posted bail and is awaiting a court date.

[Photo: My News 13]