A 32-year-old man was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of stealing a plane that ran off the runway at Fullerton Airport and crashed into a fence.
Officers responded to the airport about 3:05 p.m. and found the plane had struck a fence on the west side of the airport, putting a hole in the fence and causing minor damage to the plane, according to Sgt. Eric Bridges of the Fullerton Police Department.
Officers talked with Christian Estoque of Covina, who said he was the pilot, and noticed “inconsistencies with his statements,” Bridges said.
“Notably, officers discovered that Estoque did not possess a pilot’s license,” Bridges said. “Upon further investigation officers discovered that the Cessna 172 piloted by Estoque was stolen from the Chino Airport.”
Estoque was arrested on suspicion of grand theft and theft of an aircraft, Bridges said.
The Federal Aviation Administration was investigating the crash.