A small plane crash happened Wednesday afternoon at Fluehr Park in the Torresdale section of Northeast Philadelphia, seriously injuring a flight instructor and a student pilot who is an off-duty police officer.
The plane, identified as a Piper Pilot 100i, went down around 3:45 p.m. after being in the air for roughly 40 minutes. Authorities quickly blocked off the park as emergency crews and investigators responded to the scene.
BREAKING: Small plane crashes in Northeast Philadelphia; 2 injured. pic.twitter.com/k3u4gKbrGi
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Officials said the aircraft lost engine power while flying over the Delaware River as it was heading back toward Northeast Philadelphia Airport. The pilots reported the issue over the radio and attempted to glide the plane back safely.
According to the flight school that owns the aircraft, the instructor took control and managed to steer the plane away from homes and toward the park. The aircraft ultimately came down into a tree before reaching the airport.
Emergency crews rushed in and worked to free both occupants from the wreckage. Witnesses described chaotic moments as first responders pulled the injured men from the plane. Both were conscious when crews arrived, but suffered serious injuries.
Fire officials said the situation could have been far worse. The crash happened in a residential area, but the plane avoided nearby buildings and did not spark a fire upon impact. A small fuel spill was reported, prompting a hazmat response.
Residents nearby said they often see training aircraft flying low in the area and described the crash as frightening. Some said they were relieved it did not result in more serious damage or injuries on the ground.
The aircraft is owned by a local flight training company based at Northeast Philadelphia Airport. The company said this is its first crash in over a decade of operation, noting it runs dozens of flights daily with a large fleet and student base.
Officials said the plane was relatively new and regularly inspected under strict maintenance standards. The cause of the engine failure remains unclear.
Federal investigators, including the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration, are now working to determine what led to the crash.
The investigation remains ongoing.
