Injuries in Small Aircraft Crash new John Wayne Airport (June 30, 2017)
It was a terrifying sight as a small twin-engine plane crash-landed on Interstate 405 near John Wayne Airport in Southern California. An NBC News reports say the plane had just taken off from the airport and then after experiencing engine trouble, crashed on the 405 freeway while attempting to return to the airport. The plane burst into flames on the highway and there were injuries.
Fortunately, injuries were limited to the two people aboard the airplane, a Cessna 310. They were both transported to local hospitals. The crash which happened on a Friday at approximately 9:30 am local time (Pacific) impacted I-405 which is one of the busiest roadway in southern California and amazingly, nobody on the ground was injured. The accident happened in Orange County where John Wayne Airport is located on an emergency return and the fact that there were no injuries on the ground is nothing less than a miracle.
Another small miracle, in addition to the fact that the only ones aboard the plane (a middle-aged man and woman) were the only ones hurt, was the proximity of off-duty Captain of the Avalon Fire Department, John Meffert. Captain Meffert’s car was struck by the plane as it fell from the sky and certainly, a plane falling from the sky and bursting into flames right in front of him and his family was not the beginning to his family’s vacation he was anticipating.
Meffert told reporters, “I think the biggest thing was approaching the airplane and thinking, ‘If I don’t see movement, I’m staying back, because I don’t want to be a victim myself,” but his training and courage lead him toward the burning aircraft where he assisted its two occupants to safety while disregarding his own. Many passing by lent fire extinguishers from their vehicles to help contain the fire.
When local firefighters arrived on the scene, they quickly contained and extinguished the flame with foam. The impact of the crash had caused the plan to break apart into multiple pieces. The plane was had flown from Santa Ana to Palm Springs on Thursday afternoon. The aircraft is registered to Twin Props.
As John Meffert, said, “So, you know, a lot of people had angels over them today.” There was no loss of life and only minor injuries but there was significant property damage including vehicles on the ground and a total loss of the aircraft. Was there negligence, pilot error or some other contributing factor. When accidents like this happen one this is for sure, there will be further investigation and there will likely be responsible parties.
If you or someone you love has been seriously hurt in an accident, a Los Angeles CA personal injury attorney can help you protect your rights and rebuild your life. Our personal injury attorneys specialize in personal injury and accident cases with a proven track record of success. Contact the Los Angeles Injury Group on (310) 954-7248 for a free case consultation.
If you are in need of a personal injury attorney in California, then the Law Office Of Tawni Takagi is the lawyer to contact. She and her law firm can be reached at https://www.losangelesinjurygroup.com or you can call her directly at the following number (310) 954-7248.
