A small plane made a successful emergency landing on Huntington State Beach Monday afternoon after experiencing engine trouble shortly after takeoff from John Wayne Airport.
At approximately 2:05 p.m. on July 27, 2026, the pilot of a Piper Cherokee 140 reported an engine failure after departing from Santa Ana’s John Wayne Airport. The pilot advised air traffic control that he intended to land on the beach near the Huntington Beach smokestacks.
Another aircraft flying overhead later reported that the pilot appeared to have safely exited the plane following the landing…