Pilot of small engine plane illegally lands in Cape May County, quickly flees scene

A beach in New Jersey.
Thom Carroll/PhillyVoice

A small engine plane was spotted illegally landing on a restricted U.S. Coast Guard beach in Cape May County Sunday evening, sending the neighboring training center into heightened security mode.


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Officials say the plane landed on the south side of the training facility at 7:52 p.m. Several witnessees captured footage of the plane acting erratically, diving, turning over a residential area, and eventually landing, stopping nose down.


Authorities on the scene, which included the Coast Guard Fire Department, the Cape May County Police Department, the Cape May County Sherif's K-9 Unit, the Coast Guard Police Department and the Coast Guard Investigative Services, were told by witnesses that the pilot was seen fleeing the scene, running away shortly after landing.

It is still unknown if the pilot sustained any injuries during the landing. Officials are searching for the mystery pilot.

The plane remained on the restricted beach early Monday and the training center is on lockdown.