World War II-Era Plane Crashes in Pennsylvania
The pilot of a historic aircraft that flipped over during landing at Heritage Field Airport was rescued through the joint intervention of police and an airport employee.
A World War II-era plane trying to land at a Pennsylvania airport crashed, and the pilot, trapped inside the overturned aircraft, was rescued by crews and taken to the hospital.
The Incident
Limerick Township police units responded to Heritage Field Airport on Wednesday evening at around 7:17 PM following a report. Units found that the small plane had flipped over on the runway and the lone pilot was trapped inside.
Rescue Efforts
An airport employee and police officers rescued the pilot from his parachute and removed him from the plane. Limerick Township Fire Chief Ken Shuler stated that when they arrived at the scene, the pilot was already being extracted and the fire department did not perform any cutting operations.
Pilot's Condition
The pilot, who was conscious and able to stand, had visible cuts on his body. After initial treatment at the scene, he was transported to Reading Trauma Center, where he was reported to be awake and talking.
Aircraft Route and Fuel Leak
It was disclosed that the single-engine plane took off from Pottstown, was heading to Quakertown, and remained in the air for approximately nine minutes. Fire crews took precautions in the area due to a fuel leak that occurred following the crash.
Airport Status and Investigation
Heritage Field Airport remained closed on Wednesday night due to crews working to clean up the fuel leak and remove the aircraft. While the cause of the crash is not yet known, police notified the Federal Aviation Administration.