By Canadian Press

Plane taken on joyride, crashed into woods:’Could have been heck of a lot worse’

Aug 5, 2016 | 7:30 AM

STEPHENVILLE CROSSING, N.L. — A Newfoundland man who allegedly took a float plane on a joyride Thursday night didn’t make it very far before crashing into nearby woods, police say.

RCMP say the 32-year-old man took the Cessna 180 from the Jeffrey’s, N.L., area without the permission of the owner, who is a family member of the alleged pilot.

“He is directly related to the owner of the plane, who does not want him charged with theft,” said Cpl. John Butler, adding that a 59-year-old relative of the owner was also in the plane.

“He’s just happy that the two people … are not seriously injured. It could have been a heck of a lot worse for sure.”

The plane, painted white with a red and blue stripe, was stolen from Mitchell’s Pond, on Newfoundland’s west coast, at around 7 p.m. Thursday. It crashed into some trees a half-kilometre away, Butler said.

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Butler said the young man has been charged with flying without a licence, dangerous operation of an aircraft and obstructing a police officer. He was familiar with the plane but not a licensed pilot, Butler said.

The older passenger told police he wore a seatbelt, and suffered only a bump to his head, said Butler. The younger man, who isn’t co-operating with police, had minor injuries and spent the night in jail.

“He was walking with a bad limp and had a cut above his eye … there was blood in the plane,” said Butler. “He’s going to have achy bones and muscles for a couple of days.”

The Canadian Press

Note to readers: FIXES distance travelled