Pilot Mike Bremner lands plane on Huntington Beach after engine failure

Mike Bremner engine failure Huntington Beach landing Piper PA-28 Cherokee Elder Abuse Air Force

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 many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] The flight originated from John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana and was heading to Van Nuys. abc30.com · abc13.com · abc7ny.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The passenger was 16‑year‑old Griffin Bremner, a Canadian visiting the United States. abc30.com · abc13.com · abc7ny.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The plane landed on the sand at Huntington State Beach. abc30.com · abc13.com · abc7ny.com
[● 3 SOURCES] A Piper PA‑28 Cherokee plane experienced an engine failure shortly after takeoff. abc30.com · abc13.com · abc7ny.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The landing occurred at about 2 p.m. on Monday. abc30.com · abc13.com · abc7ny.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The incident occurred near the 2026 U.S. Open of Surfing at the beach. abc30.com · abc13.com · abc7ny.com
[● 3 SOURCES] No injuries were reported to the pilot, passenger, or bystanders. abc30.com · abc13.com · abc7ny.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Pilot Mike Bremner reported a Mayday call to the control tower. abc30.com · abc13.com · abc7ny.com