Charles Joyce signed an agreement with the New Hanover County Airport Authority, selling it the rights to airspace above his property for nearly $45,000. He says he didn't realize it meant the trees on his property would come down.

Joyce's son has been sitting in the estimated 150-year-old tree since last Wednesday. The family fears it will be slapped with a lawsuit for blocking progress when it's time for the old oak to go.

"This is a disaster. These trees, this house, it's probably, it's decimated. The loss of these trees, we're fighting to keep this one tree," says Joyce.

Wilmington Airport Director Jon Rosborough says there's no way to save the old tree.

"If you were to cut it down to the minimum of 25-feet, there wouldn't be anything left of the tree but the trunk, and it would kill the tree."

The airport is clearing the trees for a runway protection zone. Rosborough says he hopes it doesn't get to the point where they have to force Joyce's son out of the tree.

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