A World War II-era aircraft crashed during a landing attempt at a Pennsylvania airport on Wednesday evening, trapping the pilot in the overturned plane. Police and an airport employee successfully freed the pilot, according to authorities.
Police from Limerick Township arrived at Heritage Field Airport around 7:17 p.m. They discovered a small plane upside down on the runway with the pilot, the sole occupant, trapped inside.
An airport worker and police officers helped release the pilot from his parachute and extract him from the plane. Limerick Township Fire Chief Ken Shuler told FOX29 Philadelphia, “We got reports the pilot was trapped in the plane. On our arrival, they were pulling him out. So there was no extrication needed by the fire department.”
The pilot was awake and standing, despite having visible cuts. Medical personnel from Freedom Valley Medical Rescue treated him at the scene and transported him to Reading Trauma Center. The pilot remained alert and communicative after the crash, reported FOX29. No updates on his condition have been provided.
The aircraft, a single-engine model, had departed from Pottstown and was destined for Quakertown. According to Limerick Township officials, the flight lasted about nine minutes. The crash caused a fuel leak, necessitating the presence of firefighters at the airport to manage the spill and monitor for potential fires.
Heritage Field Airport, formerly known as Pottstown Municipal Airport, caters to private and recreational flights. The airport stayed closed Wednesday night as crews dealt with the fuel spill and the plane removal.
Authorities have not yet determined the crash’s cause, and police stated that aviation officials are conducting an investigation. Police contacted the Federal Aviation Administration’s Eastern Region Operations Center following the incident.