65-year-old Robert Powless, a pilot from Flora, Illinois, was arrested after landing this plane at the Mitchell Airport Thursday evening. He's charged with being under the influence while flying. He was also cited for having an open container in the plane.

Air traffic controllers and homeland security keep a close watch on the skies. So when they saw a plane on radar behaving strangely on route to the Mitchell Regional Airport, they took immediate action.

An air traffic controller reported that Powless' plane was suspiciously changing altitudes. He was also slurring his words while talking on his radio.

"It came over their domestic events system which just indicated one of the flight centers, I believe it was Chicago, had the aircraft on radar and that's where they saw the erratic flying," said Mitchell Airport manager Mike Scherschligt.

Homeland security then contacted Mitchell airport and requested Mitchell Police to check on Powless when he landed. It's a call airport manager, Mike Scherschligt, took very seriously.

"You don't know what to expect, but you just put everything in place and try to be ready for it," said Scherschligt. 

Powless landed safely at the Mitchell Regional Airport where police were waiting for him and arrested him after determining he was under the influence.

"I don't know exactly what the conversation was, but he seemed very tired," stated Scherschligt. 

Police found an open container in the plane, as well as a number of prescription pills that have triggered an investigation by the FBI.

"The FBI is involved based on the fact that he had numerous prescription pill in the plane and he did not have a prescription for those pills," said Sergeant Ryan Erickson from the Mitchell Police Department. 

All adding up to an interesting situation Scherschlight has never seen before.

"With all the procedures that are involved, it's very unusual and I would say he's very lucky," said Scherschligt.  

The charges Powless faces are both class one misdemeanors. He could receive up to a year in jail for being under the influence while flying. Powless told police he was flying into Mitchell to go pheasant hunting for the weekend.