Pilot Mike Bremner lands plane on Huntington Beach after engine failure
On Monday, July 29, 2026, pilot Mike Bremner took off from John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana in a Piper PA-28 Cherokee bound for Van Nuys. About five minutes into the flight, at roughly 1,000 feet altitude, the engine lost power. Bremner radioed a Mayday call and, with 16‑year‑old nephew Griffin Bremner, a visitor from Canada, on board, he searched for an open area and spotted the sand of Huntington State Beach near Pacific Coast Highway.
The aircraft touched down safely on the shoreline without injury to the pilot, his nephew, or beachgoers. The plane bore branding for the nonprofit Elder Abuse Air Force, which Bremner operates to combat elder financial fraud. Firefighters and the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed no casualties and opened an investigation into the engine failure. Video taken from an onboard camera captured the descent and landing, and Bremner expressed gratitude for the outcome.
The incident generated coverage from multiple local outlets, all emphasizing the successful forced landing and the lack of injuries.
Entities: Griffin Bremner · Huntington Beach · Huntington State Beach · John Wayne Airport · Mike Bremner · Piper PA-28 Cherokee · Piper PA‑28 Cherokee
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The flight originated from John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana and was heading to Van Nuys. (Pilot Mike Bremner)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The passenger was 16‑year‑old Griffin Bremner, a Canadian visiting the United States. (Pilot Mike Bremner)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The plane landed on the sand at Huntington State Beach. (Pilot Mike Bremner)
- [● 3 SOURCES] A Piper PA‑28 Cherokee plane experienced an engine failure shortly after takeoff. (Pilot Mike Bremner)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The landing occurred at about 2 p.m. on Monday. (Pilot Mike Bremner)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The incident occurred near the 2026 U.S. Open of Surfing at the beach. (Pilot Mike Bremner)
- [● 3 SOURCES] No injuries were reported to the pilot, passenger, or bystanders. (Pilot Mike Bremner)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Pilot Mike Bremner reported a Mayday call to the control tower. (Pilot Mike Bremner)