HILO — A 24-year-old man was arrested and taken to a Hawaii jail on Monday after he allegedly tried to steal a small airplane from an airport, authorities said.
HILO — A 24-year-old man was arrested and taken to a Hawaii jail on Monday after he allegedly tried to steal a small airplane from an airport, authorities said.
The Hawaii Police Department said the man crashed a vehicle through the fence at the Hilo International Airport on the Big Island on Friday.
He then parked next to a fixed-winged single engine aircraft, got out and attempted to manually spin the aircraft’s propeller, authorities said.
Police said he then approached a Beechcraft King Air C90A aircraft parked on the ramp, entered the cockpit and started both engines before leaving the plane.
Officers arrested him shortly after. A witness flagged down a patrol officer to report the situation.
Hawaii News Now reported the plane is an air ambulance. Police said the aircraft is worth $1.5 million.
The man was arrested on attempted theft in the first degree, criminal property damage in the first degree, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle and criminal trespassing charges. His bail was set at $37,000.
The man is currently at the Hawaii Community Correctional Facility in Hilo.
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