Pilot Ends His Odyssey in Stolen Plane With Suicide

DENVER — An airplane mechanic took off from Newport News, Va., in a stolen Learjet early today, barely dodging a truck parked on the runway to stop him, and flew to Denver, where he shot himself to death as authorities moved in, officials said.

Michael Christiansen apparently had been distraught about personal problems, said Peter Daikos, an official at Patrick Henry Airport in Newport News.

Christiansen had only intermittent contact with the Federal Aviation Administration on his 1,600-mile flight and did not start communicating regularly with ground controllers until “he lost a sense of where he was,” Daikos said.

The $1.5-million Learjet belonged to Flight International Inc., which had employed Christiansen as a mechanic since March.

Christiansen did not have a pilot’s license but was skilled enough to avoid a major runway collision as he fled the Newport News airport at about 2:30 a.m. EDT.

Airport police Officer John Hill had driven a police truck onto the south end of runway No. 20 while the jet was taxiing on the north end. He parked the truck and left all its emergency lights flashing and then got out as the jet roared at him, closing the 2,400-yard distance between them in a matter of seconds.

Plane Clipped Truck

Hill said he “heard a loud thud” as the plane clipped the truck but after tilting 45 degrees to the right, the plane straightened and flew off into the night. A wing tip fin was found on the ground.

Christiansen arrived at Denver’s Stapleton Airport near sunrise and Stapleton spokesman Richard Boulware said an air traffic controller with extensive experience in Learjets coached Christiansen in his landing.

Boulware said as soon as the plane landed, authorities moved in and ordered the pilot to set his brakes.

“They did not have any radio communication but they told me they heard some loud noises,” Boulware said. “When they could not raise the pilot on the radio, they approached the airplane, went inside and found him dead at the controls.”

Daikos said the man is believed to be a former resident of the Denver area.