Man Stole Two Airplanes High on Meth, Without a Pilot’s License

A California man is facing serious legal turbulence after allegedly stealing two airplanes despite having no license and being high on methamphetamine. The 38-year-old suspect, Christian Estoque, took "flying high" to a literal and dangerous level.

A Ghost in the Sky

The investigation took off when a plane's transponder was tampered with to hide its location. The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force tracked the craft across state lines, eventually finding it parked in Corona, California—over 1,000 miles from its last sighting in Washington. “The transponder had been manipulated during the flight in order to conceal where the plane had been over a three-day period,” the FBI explained.

Caught Mid-Takeoff

Federal agents staked out the Corona Municipal Airport for weeks, waiting for the thief to return to the scene of the crime. On January 27, Estoque appeared and attempted to fire up a second, unregistered aircraft. The FBI reported, “At that time, agents concluded Estoque was in the process of stealing the plane and took him into custody.”

No License, No Problem?

Estoque reportedly admitted to the first theft and confessed to operating the machinery while under the influence of meth. Despite his lack of credentials, he managed to navigate multiple states without being detected by radar.

He is currently being prosecuted in Los Angeles. Surprisingly, he has been released on bond; I guess the judge doesn't think he's a "flight risk."