Overview
- FBI agents arrested Christian Estoque on Jan. 27 at Corona Municipal Airport after seeing him enter an unregistered aircraft, remove restraints and power its engine.
- A criminal complaint alleges he is linked to an RV-12 reported stolen Jan. 3 from Auburn, Washington, which was found Jan. 6 in Corona after a Jan. 4 sighting in Kelso.
- Investigators say the plane’s transponder was manipulated to conceal the flight path over several days.
- Estoque is not a licensed pilot and, according to the complaint, admitted to being under the influence of methamphetamine while operating the aircraft.
- Surveillance and court records cite a blue Chevrolet Blazer seen at both airports, note the second plane had not been registered since 2017, and state the FBI’s investigation continues.