The Midwest Flyer is reporting that the Red Lake Nation will release Darrin Smedsmo’s aircraft at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, and the tribe will drop all charges against the Minnesota pilot.
This comes after the FAA got involved, threatening civil enforcement action against the tribe through the U.S. Department of Justice if it does not cease legal proceedings against the pilot and release the aircraft.
Back in October 2025, Smedsmo was flying from Roseau, Minnesota, to Bemidji, Minnesota, when his Stinson 108 had a catastrophic failure. He made an emergency landing on the tribe’s lands and they immediately seized his airplane, saying he violated a 1978 resolution that states the tribe has authority over the airspace up to 20,000 feet and bans overflights of “any airplanes.”
According to the Midwest Flyer report, the tribe is preparing to rescind that 1978 resolution.
“Tribal leadership and its legal department now realize they were wrong in taking possession of the aircraft in the first place,” the report noted. “Once the aircraft is back flying, Smedsmo plans to return to the Red Lake Indian Reservation and give rides to native American children.”
Read our original story here.
Turning the other cheek, and perhaps the tribe that slapped him learns a little bit about helping thy neighbor.
Good for him for planning on giving the children of the tribe airplane rides.
Perhaps the tribal elders could learn from his act of kind forgiveness. .
Had the govt not gotten involved, I wonder if they would have suddenly become so understanding.
Isn’t a Taylorcraft, it is a Stinson.
You are right. The headline has been changed.
Check again Chip, look closely at the fuselage it says Voyager 150. That would be a Stinson.
Now, that’s a gracious attitude. I would have returned with a lawsuit and a serious case of vengeance. He’s certainly setting a high standard. My hat’s off to you, Darrin.
He’s a lot more forgiving than I am.
Whether it was a suggestion from the tribal members or Darrin, it appears to be a win-win. I hope that the story continues and we are updated on the experience of the child-passengers and Darrin’s nascent relationship with the Red Lake tribe.