Miami man arrested for allegedly stealing aircraft and crashing on California Beach

Police in California have arrested a Miami man who was allegedly caught stealing a small aircraft, which he subsequently crashed onto a beach before fleeing the scene. 

A 50-year-old man was charged with theft of an airplane and booked into the Maguire Correctional Facility in Redwood City.

The incident unfolded in Half Moon Bay, where deputies responded to reports of a small airplane landing “near or on a beach” around 5 p.m. Thursday, according to a news release from the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office.

Scene of the crash

Police said officers discovered the aircraft, intact but unoccupied, on the sand south of Poplar Beach, which is about 30 miles south of San Francisco.

A photo shared by the sheriff’s office on social media depicted the plane’s striped wings tilted forward, nose buried in the sand, and tail pointing skyward.

Arrest made

Reports are that deputies located a man matching the description of a person seen landing the plane and walking away.

According to reports, the stolen aircraft is believed to have originated from an airport in Palo Alto, California, approximately 24 miles away from the crash site.