Tyler Caudill, 22, from Phillips, Nebraska, was sentenced for possessing a firearm while unlawfully using marijuana and THC. The sentencing took place in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, with United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis presiding. Caudill received a 37-month prison term, followed by a three-year supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
The incident began on May 4, 2021, when the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office learned that Caudill had taken a vehicle without permission, and an AR-15 style rifle was unaccounted for. That morning, surveillance captured Caudill with a rifle case at the Central Nebraska Regional Airport in Grand Island, Nebraska. He entered an 11-person Cessna Citation Bravo aircraft on the tarmac, carrying personal belongings, a rifle, and ammunition.
Later that day, pilots found Caudill asleep on the plane with the firearm in the cabin. After removing the items and contacting the police, officers found Caudill manipulating the airplane's controls. A tactical team eventually removed him using chemical munitions. An inbound flight was diverted due to the incident, but there were no injuries.
At the hospital, Caudill admitted to using marijuana and THC, and his urine tested positive for THC. He claimed to own the firearm and expressed plans to take the plane to Montana. Investigators found THC vape cartridges in his clothing.
The case was investigated by multiple agencies, including the Grand Island Police Department, Kearney Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.