Plane Flies Under Bay Bridge Twice

Evidence was gathered Tuesday against a pilot who twice flew his light plane under the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, then entered restricted air space at Oakland International Airport and Alameda Naval Air Station, the Federal Aviation Administration reported.

“We want to take emergency action on his (flight) certificate,” said Terry Gordon, FAA principal operations inspector.

“What we know is that he flew into the airport traffic areas without airport clearance and ended up landing at Hayward Air Terminal.” Gordon said. “In fact, Oakland (airport) tracked him on radar so they wouldn’t lose him.”

He said the FAA knew who the pilot was because of telephoned tips on the plane’s number. The pilot’s identity was not released. Gordon said statements were being gathered about the incident from eyewitnesses.

Hundreds of boaters on San Francisco Bay were startled Monday afternoon when the single-engine Cessna 172 roared from south to north 20 to 30 feet over the water, flew under westernmost section of the bridge and then turned around and did it the other way.