Watch: Plane Mysteriously Crashes Into Ocean At Huntington Beach - Stab Mag

Live Now — Episode 3 Of Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico

296 Views

Watch: Plane Mysteriously Crashes Into Ocean At Huntington Beach

One week before the US Open of Surfing.

news // Jul 23, 2022
Words by Holden Trnka
Reading Time: 2 minutes

This might be the most SoCal story ever. 

Summertime in Orange County. The pitiful dribbles of a once glorious south swell lap the shores of Surf City. Children build sand castles and listen to their parents argue over where to put the Costco cooler. Golden-brown adolescents compete in a lifeguarding competition of some sort. Brett Simpson watches, steeped in contentment, from a beachfront villa. All are unaware of the impending chaos.

A small white plane, with an ambiguously branded tequila banner in tow, begins making its second lap, flying noticeably lower than before. Suddenly, in dramatic fashion, it falls from the sky and hurtles into the brine. Onlookers scream. Lifeguards activate. A collective breath is held.

No, this isn’t a Michael Bay film. 

This is real life,

Well, mostly.

On Friday afternoon, around 1:30, a small plane towing a tequila banner actually did crash-land into the waves at Huntington Beach. We may have exaggerated the Brett Simpson part.

Two lifeguards, Jake Shaffer and Aidan were on a break from their competition when the incident occurred. They paddled out to rescue the pilot, a young man who was disoriented but only slightly injured.  He received a cut to the head, but was able to climb out on his own.  He didn’t explain what happened, and was sent to the hospital to further assess any injuries.

Yeah the boys.

The plane was a small, single-engine Piper Cub. FAA investigators are undergoing an investigation as to what caused the crash. Witnesses say that the plane wasn’t making any noises as it crashed into the ocean.

Personally, we think the guy was on a kamikaze mission to avenge Steve Irwin.

Or he was sampling some of his product.

Got any theories?

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

Fiji Has Its First Professional Surfer, And He’s Unbelievable

16-year-old James Kusitino’s incomprehensible tube lounging leads to a deal with Former.

Jul 6, 2025

Laird Hamilton on The Limitations of Being a Purist, Invention vs. Ownership + Why He Never Had a Sticker Deal 

Untold stories from his How Surfers Get Paid interview.

Jul 4, 2025

Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico: Episode 3

"The tribe has spoken," Dane Reynolds pronounced, and a surfer's torch was snuffed.

Jul 3, 2025

When Surfer’s Eye Is Actually Cancer

Erin Campbell's brutal journey from surf camp dreams to chemo drops, cryotherapy, and surgical horror.

Jul 3, 2025

Surfing’s 2025 Q2 Report

An assessment of surfing's vital signs throughout the second quarter of 2025.

Jul 2, 2025

What Actually Happened to Occy’s Mad Max Plunger Pool In Yeppoon?

Surf Lakes’ brass talks: internet hecklers, the unplugging of the plunger, and the Tom Curren…

Jul 2, 2025

Poor Goofy Foots 

Data shows that the world is stacked against goofs — they even make 15% less money than…

Jul 1, 2025

Britain’s First Wavepool Has Closed — What Really Happened?

Bankruptcy, social media hackings, debts unpaid — and yet, reopening looms.

Jul 1, 2025

Watch: Was Matt Meola’s Air Actually Better Than Hughie’s?

Watch the full Swatch Nines highlight reel and decide.

Jun 30, 2025

Houshmand Bludgeons Field To Win Second CT — Molly Picklum Tastes Blood, Snatches World #1 In Brazil

You can't argue with big surfing — that's Saquarema wrapped.

Jun 29, 2025

37 Years Old And World #1 — What’s Changed For Jordy Smith?

On rediscovering decades old surfboard templates, having a personality on the CT, and why this…

Jun 27, 2025

Tom Lowe Stars in ‘Let Me Live’

The wild, improbable ascent of Britain’s best big-wave surfer.

Jun 27, 2025

Saq Wrap: Italo Celebrates Mid-Heat, Griff Drops A Freestyle, Jordy + Yago Continue BBQing 20-YOs

Top seeds sow ruin, Final 5 starts to crystallize.

Jun 27, 2025

Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico: Episode 2

Our seven surviving surfers confront an oddly large California beach break.

Jun 26, 2025

SEOTY: The ‘Once-In-A-Decade’ Caribbean Swell That Kelly Slater Passed On

Michael Dunphy stars in Jimmicane's 'Blue Veil'

Jun 25, 2025

Who Owns Bingin? Legal Fight To Stop Demolition Begins

Eviction notices served for all businesses built on state land.

Jun 25, 2025

Tony Hawk Just Named Hughie Vaughan’s Internet-Breaking Air Because… No One Else Can

89% of our IG poll respondents claimed the 'stale fish flipper' was the best air…

Jun 25, 2025

German Surfers: AN INVESTIGATION

Truth is the light by which the world can see. 

Jun 24, 2025
Advertisement