Plane crashes at Ocala International Airport

[Photo courtesy Ocala Fire Rescue]

On Saturday evening, June 8, an experimental aircraft crashed at Ocala International Airport. The pilot was stabilized and taken to a local hospital, according to Ocala Fire Rescue.

The dispatch at 7:51 p.m. included Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF), Engine 4, Squad 7, Battalion Chief 11 and a Safety Officer, following a distress call from a pilot who reported his aircraft had crashed, OFR reported. Crews arrived at the airport, at 1770 SW 60th Ave., and discovered the aircraft with its tail elevated as it was nestled against a tree line just outside the airport fence line.

“The pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, was alert but unable to exit the plane due to its precarious position and the surrounding trees. Given the challenging offroad location, first responders utilized a smaller vehicle to reach and extricate the pilot. Once the pilot was assessed and stabilized by emergency personnel, he was carefully helped out of the wreckage and escorted to a waiting ambulance for transport to a medical facility,” stated the news release.

Engine 6 and Rescue 6 were initially added to the response but were cancelled prior to arrival. Marion County Fire Rescue, Ocala International Airport Personnel and the Ocala Police Department also responded.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the State Warning Point were notified, according to the release.

[Photo courtesy Ocala Fire Rescue]