New Jersey

Student Pilot Turns Self In After Taking Plane for Joyride in New Jersey

A 51-year-old student pilot turned himself in to authorities Wednesday after taking a small aircraft from work, landing it on a Coast Guard beach in New Jersey and then fleeing the scene.

The bizarre chain of events unfolded earlier this week when Jimmy Dahlen Jr., a mechanic for Paramount Air Services, went for an unauthorized joyride in a Piper PA12. 

The company's president- who is also Dahlen's stepmother - said the Cape May man stole the plane sometime Sunday night, though it's not clear why.

The plane landed on the beach of the Coast Guard Training Center in Cape May around 8 p.m. Sunday. Surveillance video showed Dahlen landing on the beach and then running away.

The plane wasn't damaged.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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