LaPorte Man Charged With Stealing, Wrecking Airplane

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Michael Santos

Michael Santos, 38, has been charged with theft and criminal mischief for taking a twin-engine plane and driving it off the taxiway into a bean field at the LaPorte Municipal Airport on Sept. 9, 2007. (Photo provided)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Nov 27, 2007 at 2:06 PM EST

Story Updated: Nov 27, 2007 at 3:39 PM EST

LAPORTE, Ind. (AP) — A LaPorte man has been arrested for commandeering a twin-engine plane and driving it off the taxiway into a bean field.

Police arrested 38-year-old Michael Santos, charging him with theft and criminal mischief. It was unclear whether Santos had a pilot's license.

Officers were called to LaPorte Municipal Airport in northern Indiana on Sept. 9 after the plane was found in the field, covered with soybeans chopped up by the propeller. The pilot apparently was unable to negotiate a curve leading to the runway.

An airport official says fog concealed the thief's identity from the surveillance cameras.

Santos remains in custody in the LaPorte County Jail.

Wednesday, Nov 28 at 1:25 PM santa wrote ...

hey how do u steel a plaine teach me cause my sleed just brocke down. but its ok i got elfs working on it. It should be running by next year. Sry kids santa aint coming this year. lol

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