In Rancho Palos Verdes, California, a small plane recently landed upside down in shallow water over the ocean. A Canadian spokesperson for the National Transportation Safety Board has again asked that fire protection on planes be looked at after a recent crash involving a float plane that set fire. A movie team filming the upcoming “Salinger” documentary crash-landed at the Telluride, Colorado airport. Over Labor Day weekend, these and several recent small plane crashes highlighted the dangers that can come with flying both professionally and recreationally in small airplanes.
In one tragic instance, fatalities did occur. The Canadian Transportation Safety Board in recent weeks issued a report condemning Transport Canada’s failure to apply risk management for fires occurring post-crash. Had such recommendations been implemented, two fatalities that occurred this August might not have happened. One such example would be the ability for a pilot to kill the battery on the plane after a crash, which would eliminate some of the risk for a fire post-crash.
In Prince George County, Maryland, commuters over the holiday weekend found themselves stuck for hours on the freeway after a small airplane crash. Three passengers aboard the airplane were injured, authorities reported. The passengers in the airplane had to be cut out of their seats.
In better news, a crash landing ended with no fatalities or injuries when a plane carrying Salinger” co-author David Shields and Weinstein Co. publicist Emmy Chang landed with its left gear collapsed. The filmmakers were attending their showing of the “Salinger” film at the Telluride Film Festival. Similarly, a lone pilot was safe after Los Angeles County firefighters arrived at the Trump National Golf Club shortly before noon after receiving news a plane landed upside-down at the beach. The pilot was the only person on board, and local authorities said the pilot was “alert and talking” after the crash. It was carrying an advertising banner at the time of the crash.
Recreational and commercial flying are common over holiday weekends, and unfortunately crashes do occur. Experts have cited passengers’ proximity to engine fuel, limited chance of escape and the distance from emergency personnel as factors increasing the likelihood of injury or death when involved in a small plane crash.
People and their loved ones who have experienced injury involving a plane crash should consult with an experienced personal injury attorney familiar with plane crashes to discuss their situation.
