A stolen Cessna aircraft reported missing from a Los Angeles County airport in La Verne was located early Monday morning at the San Gabriel Valley Airport in El Monte, according to police.
The El Monte Police Department responded swiftly after receiving a regional law enforcement alert regarding the stolen plane. The alert prompted officers to check the San Gabriel Valley Airport, located within city limits. Officers located the Cessna aircraft on-site and confirmed it as the plane reported stolen.
The distance between the La Verne airport—believed to be Brackett Field—and the San Gabriel Valley Airport is roughly 15 miles. The timeline between the theft and the discovery has not been publicly released.
Suspect Details Remain Unknown
As of Monday afternoon, no suspects have been identified or taken into custody. An El Monte Police Department watch commander confirmed that the plane had been recovered but said the investigation remains ongoing.
The aircraft’s recovery has drawn attention due to the unusual nature of aircraft theft in Southern California. While vehicle theft is common, unauthorized aircraft takeoffs are rare and often trigger coordinated responses across multiple jurisdictions.
Aircraft theft falls under both state and federal jurisdictions and could involve agencies such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), depending on the scope of the investigation.
Community Safety and Airfield Security
San Gabriel Valley Airport, formerly known as El Monte Airport, is a general aviation facility operated by Los Angeles County. It supports a range of private and small commercial aircraft but does not serve commercial airlines. The facility features a single runway and accommodates both recreational pilots and flight training programs.
Though the airport remains open for regular operations, the incident may prompt increased scrutiny of overnight access and security protocols. Los Angeles County Public Works, which manages the facility, has not issued a statement as of publication.
Anyone with information about the stolen Cessna aircraft or suspicious activity at either airport is encouraged to contact the El Monte Police Department. More details may emerge as investigators gather surveillance footage, air traffic control data, and witness reports.
For more information on San Gabriel Valley Airport operations, visit the Los Angeles County Public Works Aviation Division.
