HAMILTON, Ohio -- Reports that a former student was threatening to crash a small plane into Badin High School prompted Butler County deputies and Hamilton Police to investigate at the school and Butler County Regional Airport at 10:30 a.m. Thursday.
Police said students at Badin High School were safe and had not been evacuated from the building.
“We want to reiterate there is no threat to anyone at this time,” Sgt. Brian Robinson said in a release to WCPO news partner WHIO. “There is no plane crash into a school. No students are in danger and no students have been evacuated.”
Hamilton police took the pilot into custody after he landed. They said he's a 2017 Badin graduate who recently broke up with a student who still attends the school. He was released without charges.
Badin Director of Admission Dirk Q. Allen told WCPO that the school was never under lockdown and that a private plane had flown "uncomfortably close to campus."
In a letter to parents, principal Brian Pendergest wrote the plane was flying low enough to "cause us concern," though it was never at or below the level of the building. School officials reported the incident to the Butler County Airport and Hamilton Police Department, which sent an officer to the school.
Badin High School is safe and there is no threat. We have NOT evacuated and all students, faculty and staff are safe. We are working with Hamilton police and they are on campus.
— Badin High School (@BadinHS) March 15, 2018
Breaking: Officers are at Butler County Regional Airport investigating reported threat to crash plane into school. More to come...
— Craig R. Bucheit (@craigbucheit) March 15, 2018
Despite initial reports, there is no plane in the air and no immediate threat at this time.
— Craig R. Bucheit (@craigbucheit) March 15, 2018
