Two people trapped after small plane crashes into power lines in Maryland – Crews attempt high-angle rescue as 80,000 homes and businesses remain without power
- A pilot and passenger in the plane are trapped but not injured
- The plane crashed in Gaithersburg, 24 miles northwest of Washington DC
- Videos and pictures show the plane hanging 100 feet in the air from the tower
- Utility company Pepco told that about 80 thousand customers are without electricity.
A rescue is underway for a pilot and passenger who were trapped after a small plane crashed into live power lines in a Maryland neighborhood on Sunday evening, causing a massive power outage.
Harrowing video captured the scene in Gaithersburg where the plane could be seen hanging 100 feet in the air from an electricity tower.
Pete Piringer, chief spokesman for the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, tweeted that two people were on board and were not injured.
WUSA9 reported that crews at the scene are working to rescue individuals in high-angle rescues. Officials said it could take several hours to free them from the plane.
Crews perform a high-angle rescue for a trapped pilot and passenger after a small plane struck live power lines Sunday evening in Gaithersburg, Maryland.
Officers responded to the scene of the accident around 5:40 p.m. in the area of Rothbury Drive and Goshen Road in Montgomery County near Gaithersburg, a small town about 24 miles northwest of Washington, DC.
The FAA released a statement saying that a single-engine Mooney M20J took off from Westchester County Airport in White Plains, New York and crashed in Gaithersburg. The accident will be investigated.
Piringer told local news outlets that the small plane remained stuck about 100 feet above the ground as of late Sunday evening and that transmission lines remained live, complicating rescue efforts.
‘Everything is still active at the moment,’ he said.
Utility company Pepco reported that approximately 80,000 customers were without power in Montgomery County. Pepco said the aircraft came into contact with the company’s aerial transmission line.
Harrowing photos and video captured the scene in Gaithersburg where the plane could be seen dangling 100 feet in the air from a power tower
Officials said the plane remained stuck about 100 feet above the ground and transmission lines remained operational, complicating rescue efforts.
Officers responded to the accident around 5:40 p.m. in the area of Rothbury Drive and Goshen Road in Montgomery County near Gaithersburg, 24 miles northwest of Washington, DC.
“The company is assessing the extent of damage and contingency opportunities to restore service to affected customers,” a Pepco spokesperson said.
‘Pepco is working closely with Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services and is awaiting clearance at the scene before crews begin work to stabilize electrical infrastructure and restore service.’
The Montgomery County Police Department is asking people to avoid the area of the accident because there are still live power lines.
Piringer has not commented on the suspected cause of the crash.
The FAA issued the following statement:
‘This information is preliminary and subject to change.
A single-engine Mooney M20J collided with wires near the Montgomery County Airpark in Gaithersburg, MD at approximately 5:40 p.m. local time today. Two people were on board. The plane took off from Westchester County Airport in White Plains, New York
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate. The NTSB will be in charge of the investigation and will provide additional updates.
The registration number is N201RF. You can look up aircraft by aircraft registration number on this webpage.
No agency identifies people involved in plane crashes.
