Luigi Mangione, the CEO killer, was flown back to the city from Pennsylvania in a federally-funded spy plane designed to hunt for radiological weapons. The $4 million plane, a souped-up Cessna, took off from Long Island MacArthur Airport, landed in Blair County, Pa., picked up Mangione, and arrived at Central Islip airport. He was then taken by helicopter to Manhattan where he was led to the courthouse surrounded by city and federal agents, including Mayor Adams.
The NYPD believed that flying was the most efficient and safest method to transport Mangione to NYC. The modified Cessna C208B Grand Caravan was obtained through a Preparedness Grant from FEMA in 2017. However, controversies surrounded the use of the plane in the past, such as NYPD pilots flying a route shaped like a giant penis out of anger towards their boss, as well as using it to shuttle Mayor Bill de Blasio back and forth from his Canadian vacation.
Former Police Commissioner James O’Neill had also used the plane several times in 2018 for personal reasons, stating that he was never on it for counterterrorism purposes. The excessive use of the expensive plane raised questions among officials, with one former police chief suggesting that Mangione could have been transported back in a car instead of using the spy plane. Osgood, who was allegedly pushed out of the police department for assisting investigators looking into his unit, described Mangione as a “punk” and criticized the use of the plane for such a purpose.
Despite previous controversies surrounding the spy plane, the NYPD continued to use it to transport high-profile criminals like Mangione back to the city. The plane, which was initially designed to hunt for dirty bombs, has been used for various purposes over the years, including transporting politicians and top police officials. The decision to use the plane in Mangione’s case sparked debate among law enforcement officials on whether the expensive method of transportation was necessary.
The use of the spy plane to transport Mangione generated media attention, with photos of him being escorted from the courthouse by city and federal agents circulating online. The high-security measures taken during his transportation, including Mayor Adams being present, created a scene reminiscent of a Hollywood movie. Despite the criticism and controversies surrounding the use of the plane, the NYPD stood by its decision to fly Mangione back to NYC due to the distance, weather, and safety concerns involved in transporting him via other means.
