Pilot and passenger arrested after drug-filled plane lands in Oceanside

In the early hours of Thursday, a single-engine Piper PA-28-235 aircraft was forced to land on a highway in Oceanside after running out of fuel. The emergency landing occurred around 1:45 a.m. on Highway 76, a well-traveled route in San Diego County. The plane had taken off from an airport in Mesa, Arizona, just after 11 p.m. the previous night, with an expected arrival at the Bob Maxwell Memorial Airfield in Oceanside shortly after 2 a.m. However, the pilot reported engine issues before the landing, which later turned out to be a simple fuel depletion problem. Thomas Fries, the owner of the aircraft through his aviation company, stated that the fuel selector was on the left tank, which was empty. The plane is leased to a flying club, Plus One Flyers, aimed at helping young people learn to fly. The incident raised concerns due to the discovery of narcotics on board, although police did not specify the type of drugs found. Both the pilot and passenger, who are local residents, were arrested on suspicion of illegal transportation of narcotics. This incident highlights the potential dangers of flying without adequate fuel and the serious legal implications of transporting illegal substances. The authorities are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the flight and the nature of the narcotics found.