DANBURY, Conn. (AP) -- Two Bethel teenagers who wound up in New York state in a plane that had been stolen from Danbury Municipal Airport have been formally charged.
Andrew Mentch and Thomas Cascio, both 16, turned themselves in Thursday and were each charged with a felony count of circumventing airport security.
Each teen was released to his parents on a written promise to appear in Superior Court on July 22.
Police said the teens and the plane's pilot, Philippe Patricio, 20, of Bethel, scaled an 8-foot-chain link fence at the airport to get to the single-engine Cessna owned by a local flight school.
Patricio faces several charges including possession of stolen property, reckless endangerment and resisting arrest in connection with the June 22 escapade.
Patricio, who authorities said was intoxicated, is accused of stealing a four-seat Cessna from the airport and taking the two 16-year-old friends on a three-hour, middle-of-the-night joyride that ended with a successful landing at the Westchester County Airport, which was closed at the time.
