Mystery Plane Thief Strikes Again
A series of unusual thefts involving vintage planes has left many puzzled, particularly in California. Jason Hong, a retired pilot, recently experienced this unsettling phenomenon after celebrating his 75th birthday. On July 27, he intended to visit his cherished 1958 Cessna Sky Hawk, which had been parked at Corona Municipal Airport. However, upon arrival, he learned that his plane was missing, and law enforcement informed him it had been checked out multiple times before this latest incident.
Adding to the intrigue, the planes were well-maintained, according to Hong. “They came and went almost monthly, and I didn’t even notice,” he shared. Interestingly, some witnesses believe the thief might be a middle-aged woman. Hong remarked, “This is truly a rare situation.”
The 75-year-old expressed confusion about the motives behind the thefts. “Typically, if someone breaks into a home, they’re after valuables like cash or jewelry. But in this case, what’s the objective? It’s as if they vandalized my house just to redecorate,” he said.
Initially, Hong felt relieved when the police located his Cessna at Bracket Field Airport just two days after it vanished. The plane had taken off from Corona Airport on July 26, recorded to have made a brief flight to Palm Springs, followed by another short jaunt to Bracket Field.
Irritated, Hong decided to remove the plane’s battery until he could thoroughly inspect the cockpit. However, when he returned on August 3, he discovered the plane was missing again, only to be found later at San Gabriel Valley Airport.
Sgt. Robert Montanes from the Corona Police Station commented on the strange nature of the thefts, saying, “This plane just keeps disappearing into thin air. It’s just bizarre.”
Upon arriving at San Gabriel Valley Airport, Hong found his plane had been tampered with; there was a new headset and battery inside. This implied that the thief had indeed spent money to fly the aircraft. Moreover, airport locals indicated they had seen a woman piloting the plane several times in July, with one witness estimating her height at about 5’3″. However, no video evidence exists to confirm these sightings.
As the police continue to explore the situation, Hong has found a silver lining in his interactions with the staff and regulars at San Gabriel Valley Airport. “This place feels more welcoming,” he reflected. “Though it’s a bit farther, it might just become my new home,” he observed, looking on the bright side of an undeniably strange situation.
