A World War II-era aircraft crashed Wednesday evening while trying to land at a Pennsylvania airport, flipping over on the runway and leaving the pilot trapped inside before police and an airport employee pulled him to safety, officials said.
Officers with the Limerick Township Police Department were called to Heritage Field Airport at about 7:17 p.m., where they found the small plane overturned on the runway. The pilot, who was the only person aboard, was stuck inside the aircraft, according to authorities.
Police said officers and an airport employee worked quickly to free the pilot from his parachute before removing him from the wrecked plane.
Police and an airport employee rescued a trapped pilot after a WWII-era plane crashed on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (FOX29 Philadelphia WTXF)
“We got reports the pilot was trapped in the plane. On our arrival, they were pulling him out. So there was no extrication needed by the fire department,” Limerick Township Fire Chief Ken Shuler told FOX29 Philadelphia.
The pilot was conscious and able to stand but had visible cuts, police said. He was treated at the scene by Freedom Valley Medical Rescue and taken to a hospital.
The pilot was transported to Reading Trauma Center and was alert and talking after the crash, according to FOX29. No further update on his condition was available.
The pilot was the only occupant aboard the WWII-era plane when it crashed at Heritage Field Airport on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (FOX29 Philadelphia WTXF)
The single-engine plane had taken off from Pottstown and was headed to Quakertown, the station reported, citing Limerick Township officials. It had been in the air for about nine minutes.
The crash caused a fuel leak, according to the outlet, and firefighters remained at the airport to address the spill and watch for a possible fire.
Heritage Field Airport, formerly Pottstown Municipal Airport, serves private and recreational aircraft. The airport remained closed Wednesday night while crews handled the fuel leak and removed the plane.
It was unclear what caused the crash at Heritage Field Airport on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (FOX29 Philadelphia WTXF)
Police said they notified the Federal Aviation Administration’s Eastern Region Operations Center after the crash.
The cause of the crash was not immediately known, and police said aviation authorities are investigating.