Possible Downed Airplane Sought in Chester Township

Local and state authorities went searching for a downed aircraft in Chester Township late Tuesday afternoon after multiple residents reported seeing an aircraft flying extremely close to the ground, Lt. Ed Noonan said.

At 4:52 p.m. a witness called 911 regarding the low-flying plane near Pleasant Hill Road and Black River Wildlife Management Area, Noonan said.

Police responded to the scene and witnesses said a small biplane appeared to be flying very low in the area of Black River and didn’t appear to have any engine trouble or signs of distress, but it disappeared out of view, Noonan said.

The New Jersey State Police Aviation unit was called out and conducted an aerial search with heat and infrared capabilities but returned no results.

All local airports reported that all planes in the area were accounted for at the time, Noonan said.

No aircraft has been reported missing and none have been found in the time since, Noonan said.