A Florida man purloined a aircraft in Palo Alto on Thursday and put it down on a seashore in Half Moon Bay, in response to flummoxed San Mateo County authorities.
The 50-year-old Miami native and suspect, Luiz Gustavo Aires, is accused of committing the grand theft aero round 5 p.m., taking to the skies briefly earlier than touching down simply 25 miles away, the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Workplace mentioned.
“I’ve been doing this a very long time, that is for certain a primary,” mentioned Javier Acosta, a spokesman for the workplace.
Deputies acquired a name a few beached aircraft, kicking off the hunt for the misplaced plane. Witnesses instructed the deputies that somebody landed the aircraft, acquired out and walked away.
After a “thorough search,” the deputies situated the small red-and-white fixed-wing single-engine plane on Poplar Seashore in Half Moon Bay. The Federal Aviation Administration lists the aircraft as owned by a San Mateo-based restricted legal responsibility firm.
Acosta mentioned that deputies realized the aircraft was stolen from Palo Alto Airport and later situated a person who matched the outline of the one who deserted the plane.
Aires was booked on suspicion of theft of an airplane and misappropriation of misplaced property, Acosta mentioned.