The FBI has arrested a suspect in the theft of an aircraft in Washington state.
According to a statement from the agency, an investigation by the bureau’s Joint Terrorism Task Force led to the arrest of Christian Estoque, 38, of Pomona, California, on January 27. Estoque was charged with operating an unregistered aircraft.
Estoque was apprehended at the Corona Municipal Airport (KAJO) in California while trying to take an airplane that had not been registered since 2017, authorities said.
He was charged in a federal criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.
Per the FBI, “Estoque…admitted to being under the influence of methamphetamine when operating the plane.”
A search of the FAA’s pilot database shows Estoque’s name but indicates he does not hold any pilot certificates.
Estoque appeared before a federal magistrate on January 29 and was released on bond.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s LAX Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) with assistance from the Corona Police Department and La Verne Police Department in California; Kelso Police Department, Auburn Police Department, and King County Sheriff’s Office in Washington state; the FAA; and Federal Air Marshal Service.
Alleged Theft
Estoque is accused of stealing a Van’s RV-12iS from Auburn Municipal Airport (S50) in Washington on January 3.
The aircraft was built by TeenFlight, an aviation education program at Pierce County Airport-Thun Field (KPLU) 14 nm south of S50. The aircraft had been purchased by private owners in late 2025 and was based at Auburn.
According to the FBI, the RV-12iS was seen on January 4 in Kelso, Washington, some 50 nm south of S50. The airport is known in the local aviation community for having the least expensive fuel in the region. The FBI said the airplane was flown by a man and woman who had access to a rental car.
A local law enforcement representative who is part of the investigation told FLYING that the couple “talked the talk” of aviation while conversing with other pilots, however, the way they were dressed seemed suspicious as it was seasonally inappropriate.
During the investigation it was determined that the occupants of the aircraft disengaged the transponder, making the airplane untrackable. However, the aircraft was recovered on January 6 at the Corona Municipal Airport.
