Two men were hospitalized following a small plane crash at the Jamestown Airport on Monday morning, as announced by Chautauqua County officials. The incident occurred just after 10am near the airport's main runway. According to officials, a pilot and his co-pilot were flying a Cessna Citation X from Dunkirk when the crash took place at 10:12am.
Both pilots managed to exit the aircraft on their own after the crash, as confirmed by Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel. The pilot was airlifted to Erie County Medical Center (ECMC), while the co-pilot, who was "alert and conscious," was transported to UPMC Chautauqua.
The pilot sustained facial injuries. No further details were provided regarding the pilots' conditions.
Officials believe that the plane lost electricity, preventing the pilots from making any distress calls. The airport's crash truck was the first to arrive at the scene to combat the ensuing fire. Multiple fire departments and ambulances responded shortly afterward. Fortunately, no firefighters were injured during the response.
Eyewitnesses described thick, black smoke billowing into the air while the Falconer Fire Department shared images of the wreckage. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the cause of the crash. Updates on the condition of the pilots and any further developments will be provided as more information becomes available.