An uncle and his nephew faced a life-threatening situation on Monday when their plane’s engine failed, forcing an emergency landing on Huntington State Beach. Mike Bremner piloted a Piper PA-28 Cherokee, departing from John Wayne Airport in Orange County just before 2 p.m. Shortly after, the engine stopped working, and attempts to restart it were unsuccessful.

Griffin Bremner, the nephew, recounted the moment of danger when he noticed the plane shuddering and the propellers slowing. His uncle then turned to him and acknowledged the dire situation. Fortunately, Mike swiftly formulated a plan. He realized they were descending too quickly, so he aimed for a vacant section of the sprawling beach for a safe landing.

At approximately 2 p.m., the Piper PA-28 Cherokee landed without incident just south of Magnolia Street in Huntington Beach. Evan Schaben captured the event for The Times. Beachgoers, including a couple walking nearby, hurried out of danger as the aircraft approached.

The plane coasted roughly 100 feet along the sand before Mike executed a sharp turn to stop the aircraft, allowing both to exit unharmed. Responders from California State Parks reached the scene between Brookhurst and Magnolia streets, collaborating with the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board to investigate the cause of the mishap.

A spokesperson confirmed that the pilot reported flying from Santa Ana to Van Nuys Airport, encountering engine failure around five minutes into the journey. The incident led to only partial area closures and no reported injuries on the ground.

Mike Bremner, who landed the plane on the sand, is known for leading Elder Abuse Airforce, a nonprofit raising awareness of financial fraud against seniors through aerial expeditions. Despite Monday’s scare, he remains committed to flying. “I pilot corporate jets professionally and trust their maintenance. While this was an unfortunate event, I am determined to fly again,” he asserted.