VFD says Fairmont plane crash was ‘best case scenario’

FAIRMONT, W.Va. (WBOY) — The Valley Volunteer Fire Department has released more information about the small plane crash at the Fairmont Municipal Airport last week , saying that with no fire and only minor injuries, “what seemed like an almost unreal situation turned into something best case scenario.”

In a post on its official Facebook page , the Valley VFD said that it was first called to the Fairmont Airport for a reported aircraft accident at 3:20 p.m. on Friday, just a few minutes after the crash happened. The Mooney M20K plane ran off the runway at the airport and into the trees. It stopped close to the Tygart River, according to the post. A wing of the plane was broken.

The post said that the pilot was not injured, but a female passenger—the only other person on the plane according to a Federal Aviation Administration report —had leg and back pain. First responders made an access path and the injured female passenger was pulled to the top of the hill in a strokes basket using a haulage pulley, the post said. She was taken to Ruby Memorial Hospital for treatment.

Emergency crews remained on scene for a total of four hours and monitored the plane to make sure there were no other hazards, but no fire was reported.

“What seemed like an almost unreal situation turned into something best case scenario. Thankfully It appeared only minor injuries were sustained, no fire and no first responders or others were hurt. Exemplary Teamwork made this rescue successful!” the post said.

The four-passenger plane had taken off from a small airport in Auburn, Indiana, according to Flight Aware.

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