Federal pressure appears to have ended a months-long standoff between the Red Lake Nation and Minnesota pilot Darrin Smedsmo, with tribal officials agreeing to return an aircraft seized after an emergency landing and dismiss all related charges.
Midwest Flyer reported the Red Lake Nation will release pilot Darrin Smedsmo’s Stinson 108 Wednesday and dismiss pending allegations stemming from an October 2025 emergency landing near Lower Red Lake in northern Minnesota. The decision follows intervention by the FAA, which reportedly warned the tribe that continued impoundment of the aircraft could trigger federal enforcement action and possible referral to the Department of Justice.
Smedsmo was flying from Roseau to Bemidji when his aircraft suffered an engine failure, forcing him to land on State Highway 89. Although the landing was completed without injury, tribal authorities subsequently seized the aircraft, citing a 1978 tribal resolution that claims authority over airspace above reservation lands and prohibits aircraft operations below 20,000 feet.
The case quickly became a flashpoint in the longstanding question of federal versus tribal authority over navigable airspace. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) repeatedly urged federal agencies to intervene, arguing that regulation of U.S. airspace rests exclusively with the FAA and that penalizing a pilot for conducting an emergency landing could undermine aviation safety.
Last week, the FAA formally demanded the aircraft’s release, maintaining that federal aviation law governs emergency procedures and airspace regulation regardless of tribal boundaries.
According to reports, Red Lake Nation is now preparing to rescind the 1978 resolution that formed the basis for the seizure. Midwest Flyer noted that tribal officials agreed the aircraft should not have been taken into custody following the emergency landing. After the aircraft is returned to service, Smedsmo said he intends to revisit the reservation and offer airplane rides to local Native American children.
The seizure and subsequent demands were nothing short of a demo of “power corrupts.” The Red Lake Nation must be held liable for any deterioration of the airplane’s condition due to or since the seizure.
And what took the FAA so long to intervene? Asleep at the wheel? Eight months to ensure where its jurisdiction lies? Such performance is appalling, not likely to elicit a vote of confidence in an agency that simply can’t seem to do anything right, and from all indications, isn’t even trying.
It’s the simple cases such as this no-brainer that could begin to restore public faith in the badly battered agency, but the FAA seems unable to recognize and take advantage of the cost:benefit of even such minimal effort in a timely manner. Public perception seems to matter only when the administrator’s job is on the line; otherwise, looking like one of The Three Stooges is OK.
Smedsmo, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune, is also chair of the Republican Party in his home county and is said by some to have faked the emergency to prove the point. His neighbor ‘just happened’ be on the road where he landed when his engine “quit” 50 miles from home. He is also quoted as saying he was actually aware of the tribal rule when they fined an earlier pilot. Previously he said he was unaware.
So I agree there should not be airspace restrictions unless the FAA uses its rule making authority for safety reasons. However it is disturbing that a stunt like this seems to have been orchestrated to mislead a lot of people. Apparently the tribe saw his ruse for what it was and made him feel the pain.
“Minnesota Star Tribune”, "said by some to have faked the emergency. What is the point of your factless comment quoting from a left-leaning rag like the Tribune? How about publishing some actual facts instead of the usual “anonymous sources” BS that seems to be the staple of your comment?
Still, it would be interesting to know why Mr. Smedsmo’s neighbor just happened to be at the right place at the right time. It would also be helpful if Mr. Smedsmo could clarify whether he was or was not aware of the tribal rule.
You can also find it on Fox News if you are interested in authoritative sources.
https://www.startribune.com/the-red-lake-tribe-seized-a-pilots-airplane-7-months-ago-now-the-faa-is-threatening-legal-action-to-get-it-back/601537410
Need fact-check on neighbour anticipating his arrival (noting state highway), etc.
Avweb reported that tribal police helped him at his highway landing location. Media show airplane being loaded on a different truck than the trailer-truck rig that the owner eventually took it away with.
There’s confusion over which highway he landed on, Minnesota H1 versus an SR, though they would be close at the southwest corner of Lower Red Lake. He says he steered toward H1 which makes sense as it runs along the lake.
Tribes are variable - don’t go near the Pine Ridge Reservation in SD-NE where FBI agents were killed in cold blood and females are found dead but no one tips FBI.
Thanks but Tribune is paywalled, your link is not to Fox News.
Try Red Lake Nation returns plane to Roseau pilot after 7-month dispute | MPR News.
Which reports that he landed on a state highway and a friend helped him tow it off the road.
Jurk tribe realized that air ambulances and forest fire fighting aircraft would not be legal to operate in air over the reserve. Hello ‘Think Ahead, Know What You Are Doing or Don’t’?
And Red Lake Issues Statement on Impoundment of Roseau Man’s Plane
Note they impounded the airplane, didn’t just let it be pared for a day or three.