Last week’s crash of a plane stolen from Horace Williams Airport demands a swift response from the University. Though it does not operate the airport, UNC owns the property on which it rests. It should either close the airport ahead of schedule or make improvements to ensure the airport doesn’t continue to reflect poorly on the University.
UNC has already relocated its Medical Air Operations to Raleigh-Durham International Airport in anticipation of the airport’s closing to make room for satellite campus Carolina North. But private planes continue to use the airport.
Randy Young, spokesman for the UNC Department of Public Safety, has recognized the airport as one of the least secure of its size. And as it stands, the airport provides little, if any, significant value to the University.
It’s in UNC’s best interest to take decisive action and err on the side of caution. Though UNC may not be responsible for incidents at the airport, it will still be held accountable.
If the site isn’t closed or invested in, the airport only stands to harm the University.
