Pilotless Puzzle: Police in Florida Investigate How Partial Plane Ended Up Mysteriously Dumped in Vacant Lot

Police in Florida said they are working "multiple leads" after finding a mysterious piece of a scrapped plane abandoned in a vacant lot recently.

The Springfield Police Department posted a photo on Facebook of what appears to be just the cockpit and propeller from a small aircraft, asking the public for tips on how it ended up in a vacant lot on Transmitter Road. The plane scrap could be seen with yellow tow straps wrapped around the frame, and what appears to be a small toolbox resting open on the nose.

Members of the public soon pointed out that the plane's seats bore the logo of Zoo World in nearby Panama City Beach.

In an update, police said Zoo World had recently given the plane to another party, and they were cooperating with the investigation.

"They are cooperating with the investigation, and we are working multiple leads on the case," police said. "We appreciate everyone’s assistance."

“We were as shocked as everyone else to see a plane that had once belonged to us, be dropped off on the side of the road,” Jadena Terrell, assistant park director at ZooWorld, told WJHG.

“That used to be part of an exhibit, but it was removed to bring in something that would hold up,” Terrell told the outlet. “For, you know, against kids climbing that kind of thing, to make it more user-friendly for people in wheelchairs and more compliant for people, so everyone could enjoy it.”

The plane was intact when Zoo World handed it over to another person, who has not been publicly identified. That person tried to take the plane to a scrap yard, but the scrap yard wouldn't take the part of the plane that included the instrument panel.

“There’s some sort of material inside the instruments that causes the glow at night, and as a result, the scrap yard cannot take them,” Assistant Police Chief Russell Voyles told the outlet. “So that they took a portion of the plane."

The person apparently dumped the part of the plane the scrap yard wouldn't take, and could face penalties, pending further investigation.

Never miss a story — sign up for the Front Page Detectives newsletter. Be on the scene the moment news breaks.

"Based on its weight, it’s a felony charge for illegal dumping,” Voyles said. “So that’s ... a third-degree felony. You could face prison time for this, you could face a large, large fine.”

On July 18, the Springfield Police Department announced that Cordaro Jesus Hernandez, 29, and David Horton Brown, 68, have been charged in the dumping of a partial airplane on private property.

Hernandez was arrested and taken to the Bay County Jail to await first appearance, officials said. Brown remains at large and has an active warrant for his arrest. They are charged with Illegal Dumping of more than 500 lbs., a third-degree felony.

TMX contributed to this report.