An Idaho man is in custody after he allegedly stole a plane and flew it over 100 miles to California last weekend.
40-year-old Damian Zukaitis was arrested after he abandoned the aircraft and fled on foot to a San Bernardino County desert.
The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon when Zukaitis allegedly stole a 2020 Kitfox fixed-wing, single-engine aircraft from a hangar at the North Las Vegas Airport.
Police were alerted to the theft but the man had already departed the scene. Zukaitis reportedly traveled over 100 miles to the area of Barstow-Daggett Airport in California.
After he landed on the roadway outside the airport, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies tried to contact Zukaitis at which point he took off to a nearby desert.
Zukaitis was eventually arrested and charged with possession of a stolen airplane and transporting stolen property across state lines.
Investigators believe Zukaitis was involved in other incidents of attempted burglary of airplanes in North Las Vegas on Dec. 27, 28, and 29.
