Homeless California man stole private plane, took it on joyride to prove point on lax airport security

A homeless California man who stole a small private plane in Palo Alto and took it for a joyride before crash-landing on a beach in nearby Half Moon Bay earlier this month told authorities he did it to prove a point about lax airport security.

Maybe he had a point.

Luis Gustavo Aires, 50, was arrested around 5 p.m. Feb. 8, shortly after returning to terra firma in the single-engine 1960s American Champion plane, which he managed to start and get airborne from Palo Alto Airport without a key, KRON4 reports.

He allegedly accessed the plane by squeezing through a gap in the airport’s perimeter fence, which looked to have been cut open.

He told investigators his intent in stealing the $150,000 fixed-wing aircraft, which was not seriously damaged, was to “show the government that airports lack proper security,” the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office wrote.

At Aires’ first court appearance Tuesday, he informed the judge that his real name is “Sunrock,” the outlet writes.

“Sunrock” told investigators that he learned to fly in his native Brazil. His last known address is in Miami. At the time of his arrest, he was found with identification for three other individuals.

He was charged with identity theft and stealing a plane and has pleaded not guilty.

At his initial court appearance, Aires told Judge Rebecca Woodson that he wanted to represent himself, but she denied his request.

He was held on $10,000 bail. It was not known if he had retained a lawyer.

Aires/Sunrock is scheduled for a preliminary hearing at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 21 in the San Mateo County Hall of Justice.

The Post has reached out to Palo Alto Airport seeking comment.