Watch pilot escape after fiery plane crash in Foley
on April 26, 2016 at 5:18 PM, updated April 27, 2016 at 11:17 AM
A family and employees inside a Foley towing business got the shock of their lives when a twin-engine plane went down in flames just outside their office Tuesday afternoon. The sole person inside escaped with just minor injuries.
Foley Municipal Airport officials confirm the twin-engine Cessna was taking off when it immediately went down near Sunset Circle and Hickory Street. The plane was on fire, but the pilot got out through the back and jumped almost 10 feet to the ground to get away.
Police and airport officials said the pilot walked away with only a few burns and cuts on his hands.
The entire ordeal was caught on the security video of Little Bitty's Towing LLC.
The owner, who goes by the name Little Bitty, is used to seeing horrific crashes but said this was an entirely new - and shocking - experience.
"It was just crazy. I was born and raised right here. The airport's been there 50 years. You always had it in back of your mind something like this might happen, and today was the day," he said.
What added to the shock was how close the plane came to landing on the office with his parents inside. The video shows the plane bounce off a tree before stopping between 50 and 75 feet away. Little Bitty said that tree prevented the plane from landing right on them.
"I'm in the business of accidents but this is a once in a lifetime thing to happen in your own backyard. It's hard to those feelings into words," he said.
Several people ran out to help as the pilot emerged from the smoke and fell to the ground. Little Bitty said the pilot was alert and talking and was apparently in good health.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2016/04/pilot_escapes_plane_crash_near.html
on April 26, 2016 at 5:18 PM, updated April 27, 2016 at 11:17 AM
A family and employees inside a Foley towing business got the shock of their lives when a twin-engine plane went down in flames just outside their office Tuesday afternoon. The sole person inside escaped with just minor injuries.
Foley Municipal Airport officials confirm the twin-engine Cessna was taking off when it immediately went down near Sunset Circle and Hickory Street. The plane was on fire, but the pilot got out through the back and jumped almost 10 feet to the ground to get away.
Police and airport officials said the pilot walked away with only a few burns and cuts on his hands.
The entire ordeal was caught on the security video of Little Bitty's Towing LLC.
The owner, who goes by the name Little Bitty, is used to seeing horrific crashes but said this was an entirely new - and shocking - experience.
"It was just crazy. I was born and raised right here. The airport's been there 50 years. You always had it in back of your mind something like this might happen, and today was the day," he said.
What added to the shock was how close the plane came to landing on the office with his parents inside. The video shows the plane bounce off a tree before stopping between 50 and 75 feet away. Little Bitty said that tree prevented the plane from landing right on them.
"I'm in the business of accidents but this is a once in a lifetime thing to happen in your own backyard. It's hard to those feelings into words," he said.
Several people ran out to help as the pilot emerged from the smoke and fell to the ground. Little Bitty said the pilot was alert and talking and was apparently in good health.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2016/04/pilot_escapes_plane_crash_near.html