Small plane makes crash landing

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, ONT. (WIVB) - A small plane made a crash landing across the border Sunday. The small plane made an emergency landing in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. Fire engines rushed to the scene, the runway was shut down and it became a sea of red and white flashing lights.

Deputy Fire Chief Joe Zambito said, “Landed just over the fence into the airway space, on the grass, two people in the aircraft.”

Zambito says those two people on board were awake and alert when crews arrived.

“We helped the two people in the aircraft get out, they had some back injuries, but it was more or less helping them out of the aircraft to not make their injuries worse than they were,” said Zambito.

Niagara Regional Police say the plane took off from the Niagara District Airport around 2 p.m. Sunday. Moments later, the two-seater, home built plane encountered some trouble and tried to make an emergency landing.   

Zambito says the pilot of this single engine plane just couldn't make it to the runway.

Zambito said, “The typical approach to the airport is on the other end so we're not quite sure what exactly was the issue or what had happened because we didn't get a chance to get those questions asked.”

The plane was so badly damaged, Zambito doubts it'll fly again. The pilot and passenger were brought to St. Catharines General Hospital. They have not been identified.

The pilot and passenger suffered minor injuries. The Canadian equivalent of the transportation safety board is investigating.