Small plane crashes in California park, injuring pilot and pedestrian, officials say
A woman and the pilot of a small plane have been hospitalized after the aircraft needed to make an emergency landing at a California park and crashed into the unsuspecting pedestrian, authorities said.
The small plane, which had originated from Compton and was headed some 80 miles southeast to French Valley before needing to turn around, made an emergency landing at around 4 p.m. on the 6300 block of Carson in Heartwell Park on one of the soccer fields, according to a statement from the Long Beach Fire Department late Tuesday evening.
“When units arrived, they found one small aircraft on its belly with broken landing gears. The plane’s fuselage was intact. When the plane landed, it collided with a pedestrian in the park,” fire officials said.
Units who arrived on scene assisted with removing the pilot, who authorities only identified as “an elderly male,” from the airplane and immediately took him to a local hospital.
Meanwhile, the female pedestrian who officials said is in her 40s, was also treated and taken to the hospital. Both people are currently listed in moderate but stable conditions, according to the Long Beach Fire Department.
The investigation into what caused the crash landing is currently ongoing and officials said that more details about the incident will be made available in due course.
