Image Credit: John Shearer/WireImage.com; Island County Sheriff’s Office via the Everette Herald/AP ImagesHow many 17-year-olds have daydreamed about stealing a late-model Cessna 182 Skylane, flying it around the Pacific Northwest for a while, crashing the sucker into a gully, and then fleeing from the vomit-covered cockpit before the cops turn up? Okay, so maybe no one has ever had that exact fantasy. But the aforementioned crime is just one of many that have made teenager Colton Harris-Moore a high priority target for law enforcement officials, including the FBI.
The story of Harris-Moore, who is still on the loose following his 2008 Cessna adventure, was recently detailed in an excellent Outdoor magazine piece by San Juan writer Bob Friel. According to Deadline, that article might serve as the basis for a movie, which will be produced, and possibly directed, by Pineapple Express auteur David Gordon Green. It’ll be interesting to see how Green tackles the subject matter. In some quarters, Harris-Moore is increasingly being regarded as a folk hero and, according to Friel’s article, it is possible to purchase “FLY, COLTON, FLY!” t-shirts. On the other hand, and at the risk of sounding like a killjoy, there are actually some very good reasons why unqualified pilots aren’t allowed to fly planes. And Harris-Moore was very much an unqualified pilot. In fact, he’d never even been in a plane before he decided to steal one.
Anyway, check out Friel’s article—it really is an incredible read—and tell us what you think.
this proves that bad behavior does pay off.. USA USA USA!!
Just a guess: Efron.
Sad that many regard this person as a folk hero: a thief who broke into people’s houses and used stolen credit cards to buy things, who thankfully did not kill anyone trying to fly a plane, and had done other criminal activities just for the fun of it. And look, they’re making a movie about him! That will sure encourage him to continue on this path… Ugh..
I’m surprised it took this long. Colton Harris-Moore has already reached legend status, and there have been numerous profiles of him well before this Outside article. I don’t see the Pineapple Express guy doing it though. It would play better as a “Catch Me if You Can” style movie.
Apparently he’s opened fire on police pursuing him – which is NOT cool.
Hope they finally catch the snot and give him a proper American @ss beating.
Link please. I’ve read several articles about him and I don’t recall that.