Crime & Safety
2 Survive After Small Plane Crashes In Rural Monterey County
The Monterey County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue team was able to hike into the crash location and locate the aircraft.
MONTEREY COUNTY, CA — Two people survived after their small plane crashed in rural Monterey County on Sunday morning, according to the Sheriff's Office.
Authorities were notified at about 9:40 a.m. that a small aircraft crashed in the area east of Miller Canyon near Laurel Springs Road.
According to the Sheriff's Office, the pilot and his passenger were able to walk away from the downed aircraft and call for help.
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"According to the pilot, the aircraft had departed the Salinas Municipal Airport earlier in the morning for a sightseeing trip," said the Sheriff's Office on social media. "He noticed his aircraft was leaking fuel prior to going down."
California Highway Patrol's Air71 aircraft responded and was able to locate the downed plane and its two occupants and a Cal Fire helicopter arrived to lift the pair from the crash scene. They were then flown to nearby location where they were transferred to a ground ambulance and taken to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries, the Sheriff's Office said.
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The Monterey County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue team was able to hike into the crash location and locate the aircraft. The scene was secured and will be turned over to federal authorities for further investigation.
By Katy St. Clair / Bay City News
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