Private plane traveling from St. George has water landing in Oregon

SALT LAKE CITY — A small plane that took off from St. George skidded off the runway into Coos Bay while landing in North Bend, Oregon Monday morning. According to the Southwest Oregon Regional Airport, the plane carrying four passengers and a pilot attempted to land just after 6 a.m. All on board were taken to a local hospital in stable condition. The crash was witnessed by an airport crew member who called emergency responders according to ABC affiliate KEZI 9 in North Bend. "This is where our constant requirements which afford us to have a mass casualty training come into play," said Coos County Airport District public information officer Stephanie Kilmer.  Kilmer told KEZI 9 that weather was not a factor in the crash. She also says no information yet if a distress signal was called out. But said the pilot retained some control of the plane as it slid off the runway. "We do know that the pilot was able to take evasive action to avoid a critically important air navigational tool at the end of the runway," said Kilmer. The Southwest Oregon Regional Airport said in a statement that multiple emergency response teams were at the scene including OTH Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting crews, as well as personnel from the Coos Bay and North Bend Fire Departments, North Bend Police Department, and Coos County Sheriff's Office. Additionally, the National Transportation Safety Board was notified and authorized the removal of the aircraft from the water.  An investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing.

Read more: U.S. Bank says executive believed to have been killed in small plane crash in Minnesota

Related topics