Aircraft Crashes In Londonderry, Pilot Transported To Boston Hospital

LONDONDERRY, NH — Londonderry police and fire and rescue teams are at the scene of a reported plane crash on Colonial Road Friday morning.

Airport Manager Ted Kitchen said airport communications advised of a "pending aircraft emergency" at 7:25 a.m., which activated rescue personnel to position themselves on the runway. At 7:28 a.m., the tower advised the plane had crashed in Londonderry, and crews were dispatched. A unified command center coordinated efforts between local, state, and federal agencies. The flight was identified as Wiggins Flight 1046, traveling to Presque Isle, Maine.

A trauma alert was requested at the Elliot Hospital, and the man was extricated to a Derry Ambulance backed into the driveway of a residence on Colonial Drive. The pilot was given medical aid at the scene and then transported to the hospital in Manchester. Authorities did not provide the pilot's medical condition but said he had been transported to a Boston hospital.

Workers performing tree work near the power lines off Wiley Hill Road witnessed the twin prop plane crash near the area of the lines and called 911. The pilot of the plane was conscious and also called 911.

Radio transmissions indicated the plane was smoking, a large amount of fuel had spilled, and the pilot was entrapped. The power lines in the area were verified to be unenergized, allowing firefighters to work to extricate the man.

Londonderry Fire said the aircraft's fuselage was heavily damaged and broken apart. Firefighters used battery-operated extrication tools to free the pilot, who they removed through the front window of the plane. “Crews don’t have a lot of experience with this type of incident, but it is what they have trained for and why the operation was done quickly and no personnel were injured.

Photo Londonderry Fire Department

Several reports from witnesses in Manchester and Londonderry indicated the plane was “loud” and did not appear to be flying a stable path.

Screenshot of FlightAware showing the path of the aircraft

Sources verified the plane took off from the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport and was traveling to Presque Isle, Maine. It was a “feeder” plane delivering UPS packages from a hub at the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport.

A radio transmission to relay information to the FAA and NH Department of Environmental Services indicated the plane had nearly a full tank of fuel, which had mostly spilled in the wooded area with wetlands.

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news

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