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Florida Gyrocopter Pilot Returns Home, Awaits Hearing

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RUSKIN (AP) — A mail carrier has returned to his home in Florida, where he'll wait for his next hearing after flying his gyrocopter onto the U.S. Capitol lawn.

Doug Hughes was charged with operating an unregistered aircraft and violating national airspace after landing his gyrocopter in Washington on Wednesday.

The 61-year-old told The Associated Press that people weren't scared when they saw the aircraft and waved at him. He said he waved back.

He told the AP that Americans shouldn't be so worried about security in Washington, but rather that the country's campaign finance laws are too weak.

He told the Tampa Bay Times that his house arrest begins Monday, and will wear an electronic monitoring ankle bracelet until a May 8 court hearing in Washington.

(© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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