A California man is baffled after an unknown pilot repeatedly stole his plane, took it for joyrides, and returned it—once even replacing the battery. Jason Hong, 75, owns a 1958 Cessna Skyhawk, which he keeps at Corona Municipal Airport. On his 75th birthday, 27 July, he discovered the plane was missing from its hangar.
After reporting the theft to police, Hong learned that the plane had been flown across Southern California on at least two occasions. Two days later, it was found at Brackett Field Airport, about 25 miles away, with only rubbish and cigarette butts left inside. To prevent further incidents, Hong removed the battery.
On 3 August, while visiting his plane at Brackett Field, Hong found it missing again. This time, it turned up at San Gabriel Valley Airport, 18 miles west. Upon inspection, he discovered that someone had replaced the battery. Hong estimated the mystery pilot spent hundreds of dollars on a new battery, tools, and a headset.
Sergeant Robert Montanez of the Corona Police Department told the Los Angeles Times that the plane "keeps disappearing out of the blue." There is no surveillance footage or solid leads. Hong used Flight Aware to track the plane and noted flights on his birthday, including one at 1:30 am. He believes the pilot has flight training, as "landing is not easy."
The only potential clue is a woman in her 40s or 50s seen sitting in the plane at San Gabriel Valley Airport. Hong has since chained the plane and is awaiting an inspection before flying it again.
