A man allegedly broke into a Van Nuys Airport building around 4 a.m., seized a Cessna C172 and the aircraft struck a hangar about 5 a.m., officials say. The 37-year-old suspect, Ceffeareno Logan, was arrested on suspicion of burglary and aircraft theft, and the FBI also responded. Photos and footage show major hangar damage and a broken propeller; investigators believe the plane hit the hangar while taxiing.
Stolen Cessna Crashes Into Hangar at Van Nuys Airport; Suspect Arrested
Stolen plane crashes into building at Los Angeles airport; suspect arrested
A small single-engine airplane crashed into a hangar at Van Nuys Airport early Thursday after a man allegedly broke into a building on the airfield and took control of the aircraft, according to Los Angeles Airport Police.
An airplane crash at the Van Nuys Airport in Los Angeles left a building with a gaping hole Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the aircraft, a Cessna C172, struck the hangar at approximately 5 a.m. Local media and law enforcement sources reported the plane never became airborne; investigators believe it collided with the hangar while taxiing.
A Cessna plane was moved into a hangar at the Van Nuys Airport after an incident that led it to crash into a wall.
Authorities identified the suspect as 37-year-old Ceffeareno Logan, who was arrested on suspicion of burglary and theft of an aircraft. The FBI's Los Angeles field office confirmed federal agents also responded to the scene.
LAX Police: "Logan … trespassed a private leasehold and onto Van Nuys general aviation airport gaining access to a Cessna aircraft, causing damage to adjacent infrastructure. LAXPD immediately responded and took subject into custody."
Photos from the scene show a large hole in the hangar where the Cessna struck the building. SkyFox aerial footage and other video showed the aircraft with a damaged propeller after it was removed from the crash site and placed inside a building for inspection.
It remains unclear whether authorities are searching for additional suspects. Van Nuys Airport is a general aviation facility operated by Los Angeles World Airports. Fox News Digital reported that it reached out to the LAX Police Department and Van Nuys Airport for further comment.
