A stolen airplane was recovered by El Monte Police Officers early Monday at the San Gabriel Valley Airport, as reported by KTLA. The Cessna 172 plane, colored with red, orange, and yellow stripes, originally reported stolen from a La Verne airport, was found parked on the tarmac by graveyard shift officers following a notification from area law enforcement to look out for the missing aircraft.
Details surrounding the aircraft's theft remain veiled in mystery; El Monte Police took a stolen vehicle report and are continuing to investigate who may have taken off with the plane, with officers from both the Criminal Enforcement team and Team 1 being credited for the recovery, the small plane, which is commonly used for flight training, maintenance, and plays a crucial role in the nation's aviation network no suspect has as yet been identified since the iconic Cessna was discovered and confirmed as the stolen plane outside a hangar late Sunday evening, as reported by a CBS News Los Angeles social media post.
While the El Monte Police Department's initial identification confirmed the plane as the stolen aircraft, further details about the suspect or the circumstances under which the plane was taken have not been disclosed. A social media post by the department praised the patrol officers for their successful recovery, exclaiming, "Great job Team 1!"
The San Gabriel Valley Airport, previously known as El Monte Airport, is a hub of general aviation activity within Los Angeles County, according to FOX LA's report, which notes the integrated system of general aviation airports it supports, including providing services for flight training aircraft maintenance and fuel services.
