Man arrested after stolen plane makes emergency landing on San Mateo Co. beach: sheriff

San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office says a man stole a single-engine plane from Palo Alto Airport and made a crash landing near Poplar Beach.

SKY7 got video of the single-engine two-seater, nose-down just south of Poplar Beach in Half Moon Bay.

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.

Sergeant Javier Acosta said the suspect is a 50-year-old man from Miami, Florida.

“I’ve been doing this for almost 20 years and this is a first for me,” Acosta said.

Kathleen Kennedy of Santa Clara said the plane flew right over her – twice.

“The first buzz was so fast, it was a normal speed and it flew right over my head – like 20 feet over my head,” Kennedy said.

She thought it was a mayday call or something illegal.

MORE: Idaho man arrested for stealing plane in North Las Vegas and flying to Barstow, CA

Story continues

TRENDING NOW

LATEST LOCAL NEWS