Police say man stole airplane

A reportedly despondent former air traffic controller disappeared with a rented single-engine airplane Wednesday afternoon and was arrested on the charge of grand theft when he finally landed just after midnight at the Coeur d’Alene Airport, according to a Kootenai County sheriff’s report.

Tracy Allen Jenson, 47, was arrested by sheriff’s deputies about 12:15 a.m. Thursday after he was unable to escape in the Cessna 172 aircraft because he was low on fuel, according to the report.

Jenson arrived at the Coeur d’Alene Airport about 11 a.m. Wednesday and requested to rent a plane to practice taking off and landing.

Hans Dyroy, a flight instructor with Intermountain Aviation, rented him the plane after confirming that Jenson was a capable pilot and had a pilot’s license, though Jenson hadn’t yet paid, according to the report.

Jenson practiced a few take-offs and landings and after his final take-off, disappeared into the sky.

According to the report, Jenson called his father from the Sandpoint Airport about 10:50 p.m. to say he had about 10 gallons of fuel left and was flying back to Hayden, where the Coeur d’Alene Airport is located.

Deputies waited for Jenson at the airport, and Jenson tried to take off again after he saw them on the tarmac, according to the report.

He told the arresting officers that he had taken the plane for the long flight because he “had a lot on his mind.”

He also said he was thinking about getting the plane back up in the air and then jumping out to “ease his suffering,” according to the report.