A legal fight against a Coronado Cays resident who recently hoisted a 14,000-pound jet fuselage on his roof continues as a motion hearing for the case has been scheduled for Sept. 18.
The resident and developer of the house, Abdulelah Albusseir, had plans for this house and its design choices since 2023 when the project was first approved by the Coronado Cays Homeowners Association (HOA) and the city.
The installation at the end of July follows an April lawsuit filed by several neighbors, including Garrett and Amanda Pagon, who live across the street from him. Backed by a petition signed by over 150 Cays residents, the lawsuit alleges the rooftop jet will detract from the neighborhood’s aesthetic appeal, increase traffic and noise pollution and decrease local property values.
Both the Pagons and Albusseir reside in Green Turtle Cay village, a custom-built home neighborhood in the Cays, according to the HOA.
As part of their suit, the plaintiffs requested an emergency ex parte temporary restraining order to block construction, arguing the project posed immediate and “irreparable” harm.
To illustrate their point, the Pagons mounted a life-sized inflatable jet on their own roof in May. The defendants’ court documents assert that they did not get any prior approval from the HOA to place the inflatable.
The HOA and the Pagons’ lawyers did not respond on deadline.
Albusseir’s attorney told The Coronado News he did not have a comment.
Dawn Richards, a Cays resident in support of the plaintiffs, said that the issue she has with this situation is more so about the HOA violating their own standards.
Richards and the lawsuit claimed that what was approved in 2023 by the HOA was a violation of their own rules.
The HOA’s handbook says that in order to be approved, the project has to show, “in three dimensions,” that it would look in place with the rest of its surroundings. Three dimensions means height, width and depth.
According to Richards, the document that was presented in 2023 didn’t show measurements or elevations, only showing a flat 2D drawing.
The problem that I have … is that it’s setting a dangerous precedent.
Cays resident Dawn Richards
“The problem that I have … is that it’s setting a dangerous precedent,” Richards told The Coronado News. She asked hypothetically that if they were able to do this, what else can other developers put on their home in the Cays.
Legal documents said that Albusseir “adequately disclosed the existence of the plane fuselage (including artistic renderings of the same).
“The fact Plaintiffs disagree with the judgment exercised by the HOA and the Architectural and Environmental Control Committee is inconsequential.”
The HOA did not respond on deadline.
Albusseir’s defense
In legal filings, Albusseir’s defense team submitted a demurrer asking the court to dismiss the claims, arguing that the neighbors’ concerns are entirely speculative.
The Pagons only first vocalized apprehension last year, according to the HOA.
“The speculative concerns raised by Plaintiffs do not exist – and significantly, may never materialize once the fuselage is installed,” the defense stated.
Albusseir’s attorneys emphasized that he fully disclosed the plane feature from the beginning, the HOA offered multiple opportunities for public comments and even modified the design to address concerns brought up by the Pagons. Those changes included removing the aircraft’s tail and engines and adding a privacy wall to block street-level views.
However, the defense argued that these concerns were not brought up until two years later, in July 2025, when the project had already been approved and construction begun. No objections were expressed before then, according to the defense.
His legal team also stated that any evidence to the claims made by the Pagons and Cays residents is “critically missing,” and their arguments failed to demonstrate “irreparable harm,” noting that the installation is reversible.
The fuselage may be removed from the rooftop just as simply as it is installed.
Abdulelah Albusseir’s legal team
“The fuselage may be removed from the rooftop just as simply as it is installed,” the defense stated in court filings.
The HOA’s defense
The Coronado Cays HOA also pushed back against the lawsuit and minimized the level of community opposition, noting that the 150 petition signatures represent only “a little more than one percent of the approximate 1,200 homes” within the Cays.
The HOA argued that Green Turtle Cay is specifically designated for custom-built homes that often have unique architecture, including domes, pergolas, putting greens and custom art installations. They also maintained that the feature will not “cause nuisance or interfere with plaintiffs’ ability to peaceful enjoyment of their property.”
However, in a statement supporting the homeowners association’s defense, the HOA’s general manager, Henry Angelino, referenced a December 2025 cease-and-desist letter that the board approved after “learning of different plans for the property” that varied from what the association had previously approved.
According to the letter, there were “inconsistencies” contained in prior versions of project plans, and the HOA had not been provided new drawings and design information.
“These drawings materially differ from what has been represented to, presented and relied upon,” stated the HOA in their cease-and-desist.
The court records are unclear whether Albusseir sent in revised plans, but the project moved forward.
Albusseir’s legal team did not address the cease-and-desist order, only mentioning that modifications were made after concerns were brought up from his neighbors.
The parties are expected to present their arguments before a judge on Sept. 18.
