Mysterious airplane thefts persist; one man's aircraft repeatedly stolen, repaired, and returned – enigma remains unsolved.
Mystery Unfolds as Californian's Plane Disappears and Reappears
A single-engine aircraft in California has been causing a stir after it repeatedly disappeared and reappeared from different airports without the owner's knowledge. The owner, 75-year-old Jason Hong, has been left baffled by the series of events involving his 1958 Cessna Skyhawk.
The aircraft, distinctive with its white and red body adorned with colourful stripes, has been seen flying in and out of San Gabriel Valley Airport multiple times in July. Hong, who celebrated his 75th birthday recently, was initially unsure who to contact about a missing, stolen plane. He eventually turned to the authorities after using flight-tracking tools like FlightAware and discovering that the plane had made unauthorized flights, visiting locations across Southern California such as Palm Springs and Riverside County.
The airplane’s disappearance and reappearance without the owner’s permission or official recordings are thought to be the result of covert unauthorized use and return by an unknown person. The mystery deepens as the plane often returns in better condition, implying that the unknown person is also maintaining it.
Airports with many small planes can have limited real-time surveillance, making unauthorized takeoffs less noticeable, especially for vintage private planes. The unknown pilot likely operates late at night or during low-visibility times to avoid being easily spotted. The plane is returned to different airports, complicating tracking by airport staff or authorities. Flight tracking websites may show flights only after the fact, making real-time detection difficult unless specifically monitored by the owner or authorities.
No evidence of reported theft, forced entry, or official criminal investigation details are publicly noted apart from the owner’s report to police after tracking flights. The mystery remains unresolved, raising questions of either a highly skilled unauthorized user or potentially an inside job with access to the owner’s plane.
Intriguingly, a woman, about 5 feet, 3 inches tall, and in her 40s or 50s, has been seen flying and sitting in the plane on multiple occasions at San Gabriel Valley Airport. Hong has spoken to regular pilots and employees at the airport, who have seen the aircraft flying in and out of the airport multiple times in July.
The mystery deepens further as Hong removed the battery from the aircraft and left it at Brackett Field Airport. Cigarette butts and garbage were found in the cockpit of the aircraft. The replacement of the battery suggests the pilot is familiar with the mechanics of the plane, and the mysterious pilot has spent hundreds of dollars on equipment, including a new battery and a headset.
Sgt. Robert Montanez of the Corona Police Department finds the case of the stolen aircraft unusual. Hong has chained his plane in San Gabriel Valley Airport and is uncomfortable flying it until he can thoroughly inspect it. The search for the mystery pilot continues, leaving many questions unanswered.
- The peculiar incidents surrounding Jason Hong's 1958 Cessna Skyhawk, a plane that appears to be under unauthorized use, have raised concerns in the realm of business law, as the livelihood of the airplane's owner remains uncertain.
- As the mystery of the vanishing and reappearing aircraft unfolds, it has dawned on authorities that sports, specifically mixed-martial-arts, might unknowingly be providing a cover for the elusive pilot, given the occasional sightings of a woman fitting the description of a typical MMA spectator at the San Gabriel Valley Airport.
- As the investigation into the stolen aircraft continues, officials are also investigating possible links between the crime and local sporting events in Los Angeles, California, where the unknown pilot might be using the cover of spectator crowds to blend in undetected.
