A man stole a single-engine plane from Palo Alto Airport and made a crash landing near Poplar Beach.
Sheriff’s officials say they received reports the small aircraft landed on the sand at around 5 p.m.
When officers arrived the plane was unoccupied, but witnesses saw the pilot walk away.
Thanks to a witness’s description of the pilot, the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office arrested the suspect within minutes.
STOLEN PLANE: @SMCSheriff confirms a man stole this plane from Palo Alto Airport & landed just south of Poplar Beach. Authorities say the suspect, a 50-yr-old man from Miami-Dade, walked away & was arrested within minutes.
Vid: SMCSO @abc7newsbayarea https://t.co/W8MgoiVJt7 pic.twitter.com/NIRClMymnR— LaurenABC7 (@LaurenABC7) February 9, 2024
Sergeant Javier Acosta said the suspect is a 50-year-old man from Miami, Florida.
The Sheriff’s Office said the suspect has been arrested and booked into jail.