The pilot is 62-year-old Steve Grabowski, a former Pittsburgh city councilman who now lives in the suburb of Lower Burrell.
Grabowski's landing after 9 a.m. Sunday prompted 911 calls from tailgaters, but Grabowski was merely intending to join them — not frighten them.
The retired contractor tailgated and watched the first half of the game at the stadium before flying back to Butler, where he watched the rest of the game on TV.
Grabowksi was a city councilman from 1983 to 1988 after spending four years as a state representative from Pittsburgh.
- Source: http://www.wpxi.com
Float plane's arrival causes a stir in Downtown Pittsburgh
The pregame excitement before the Steelers’ season opener against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday included a dramatic landing of a boat plane on the Ohio River, which prompted tailgaters to flood the 911 emergency line with calls.
“Every time I land, people call 911,” said Steve Grabowski, the seaplane pilot.
“They think something fishy is going on, but there’s no problem landing the way I did,” he said.
“I like to fly whenever the weather permits. Today is an exceptionally nice day, and I figured I’d come out and tailgate with the boaters.”
Mr. Grabowski, 62, touched down shortly after 9 a.m., right in front of the submarine near the Carnegie Science Center. Soon afterward, city police officers visited him, wanting to make sure he was OK.
The retired contractor said he lives in Lower Burrell.
He keeps his boat plane, a Maule MX7 with 235 horsepower, in Butler.
He said he served as a Pittsburgh city councilman from 1983 to 1988 and before that was a state representative for Lawrenceville from 1979 to 1983.
His 3-month-old poodle-golden retriever mix, Lily, was with him Sunday for her maiden flight. Mr. Grabowski enjoyed the tailgate and the first half of the game at Heinz Field and then flew back to Butler after halftime to watch the rest of the game on TV.
Story, photo and comments: http://www.post-gazette.com
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