Also Charged With Carrying Passenger, Low-Level Aerobatics

The student pilot who flew over a high school football game last fall is on the receiving end of an FAA emergency revocation of his student pilot certificate.

The FAA reports Raymond E. Kennedy Jr. stole a Cessna 172 took off from Marshfield airport and buzzed the stadium where the homecoming football game between Marshfield and Rhinelander high schools was underway. He then flew to nearby Neillsville, before returning to Marshfield.

Kennedy's flight on September 30 violated nine FAA regulations, the Marshfield (WI) News-Herald reports. Those violations included low flight and acrobatics over an open air assembly of persons below 1,000 feet, carrying a passenger -- and discharging that passenger on an active runway while the aircraft was still operating, and flying at night without the proper endorsement.

Kennedy, who was 16 at the time of the incident, also dropped confetti on the crowd at the game, according to the FAA order to pull his ticket.

As both Kennedy and his still-unidentified passenger were minors, authorities did not release their names. In a letter to the News-Herald last October, however, Kennedy owned up to his crime.

"It was never my intention to scare or terrorize any of the fans or players at any time. The fly-over was a prank intended to enlighten the crowd's spirit and to have a fun Homecoming," he wrote. "I have now seen several different perspectives of my stunt, all of which were never my intentions."

Kennedy, who at the time worked at the Marshfield airport, had soloed about three months before the incident. Airport manager Harold "Duffy" Gaier said Kennedy had access to aircraft, as well as the keys.

Kennedy has until March 5 to appeal the order, which also includes charges of reckless endangerment. He declined comment Monday.

FMI: www.faa.gov