![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/19587076_072726-kabc-small-plane-emergency-landing-tn-img.jpeg\")
The Piper PA-28 landed on the state beach south of Magnolia Street early Monday afternoon, according to Jessica Cuchilla of the Huntington Beach Police Department (ABC7)<\/p>\nYour support helps us to tell the story<\/p>\n
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.<\/p>\n
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.<\/p>\n
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.<\/p>\n
Your support makes all the difference.Read more<\/p>\n
A pilot and his 16-year-old nephew cheated disaster Monday when their single-engine plane lost power and was forced to make an emergency landing on a crowded Southern California beach packed with spectators for the U.S. Open of Surfing.<\/p>\n
The Piper PA-28 touched down safely on Huntington State Beach just south of Magnolia Street after the pilot reported engine trouble shortly after taking off from John Wayne Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.<\/p>\n
Miraculously, neither of the two people aboard nor anyone on the sand was hurt.<\/p>\n
The Piper PA-28 landed on the state beach south of Magnolia Street early Monday afternoon, according to Jessica Cuchilla of the Huntington Beach Police Department (ABC7)<\/p>\n
Witnesses watched in disbelief as the plane glided toward the beach before touching down near a lifeguard tower.<\/p>\n
“I just couldn’t believe what I was seeing,” one witness told CBS Los Angeles. “It was just amazing. I’m just so happy they landed and nobody got hurt.”<\/p>\n
Pilot Mike Bremner said he was headed to Van Nuys when the aircraft suddenly lost power.<\/p>\n
“The engine shut down,” Bremner said, adding that he declared a mayday before searching for the safest place to land.<\/p>\n
![\"Photos](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Huntington-Plane.jpeg\")
Photos from the scene showed the plane on the beach near a lifeguard tower (Huntington Beach Police Department)<\/p>\n
With the plane at roughly 1,000 feet, Bremner said there was little time to make a decision.<\/p>\n
“We ran a very quick check to try to get the engine going again,” he told NBC Los Angeles.<\/a> “We had to determine very quickly where to land.”<\/p>\n He chose the beach, configured the aircraft to glide as far as possible and brought it down safely.<\/p>\n “I really just followed my instincts,” Bremner said. “Luckily it turned out this way.”<\/p>\n His passenger, 16-year-old Griffin, was flying with his uncle for the first time while visiting from Canada for a basketball tournament.<\/p>\n “About five minutes into our flight, the plane slows down, the propeller slows down, and the plane sputters a little bit and shakes,” the teen told KTLA<\/a>. “He just looks over and tells me, ‘Griffin, the engine is failing. We’re landing on the beach.'”<\/p>\n The plane is registered to Elder Abuse Air Force, a nonprofit organization that works to protect older adults from financial scams and abuse. Bremner said he was flying to one of the group’s meetings when the engine failed.<\/p>\n Despite the frightening ordeal, Bremner said the incident has not shaken his confidence in aviation.<\/p>\n![\"At](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/iStock-2167973458.jpg\")
At the time of the landing, the beach was crowded thanks to the 2026 U.S. Open of Surfing (Getty\/iStock)<\/p>\n