BELTRAMI COUNTY (trfnews.i234.me) – The Red Lake Nation has released a statement defending the seizure of a small plane that made an emergency landing within the reservation’s boundaries last month.
According to officials, on October 15, pilot Darrin Smedsmo of Roseau landed his single-engine aircraft on a road inside Red Lake Nation lands after his engine failed. The plane was then impounded by tribal authorities under a 1978 tribal resolution prohibiting low-altitude flights—below 20,000 feet—over the reservation.
Smedsmo told TRF News that the restriction does not appear on Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aeronautical charts and that federal law governs U.S. airspace, not local or tribal regulations.
After several days without comment, the Red Lake Tribal Council released a statement Monday emphasizing its sovereign authority over tribal lands, resources, and public safety.
The statement cited several reasons for impounding the plane:
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The aircraft landed on reservation land without prior authorization.
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The landing created immediate safety and liability concerns.
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Tribal law enforcement was obligated to ensure public safety and compliance with tribal laws.
The council said the case remains under investigation and that once it concludes, tribal court proceedings will begin, where Smedsmo will receive due process under tribal law.
Smedsmo is scheduled to appear in Red Lake Tribal Court on Tuesday, November 4.
For background on tribal airspace disputes and sovereignty, visit FAA.gov
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News
