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Photo from Los Angeles Fire DepartmentOn Monday afternoon a Sling TSi crashed on a soccer field in Los Angeles. Bystanders pulled the passenger out of the aircraft and firefighters extricated the pilot and both occupants were taken to the hospital in critical condition.
At about 12:53 p.m. the Los Angeles Fire Department arrived on the scene. The firefighters reported finding a small plane that had sustained a high-impact crash. The pilot was a male, estimated to be about 45 years old, and the passenger was a woman, estimated to be about 30 years old. KTLA 5 reported that the single-engine plane came from Zamperini Field and flew out over the ocean briefly on a 30-minute flight. Video captured the plane, appearing to be descending into the field at an angle. A group of bystanders had pulled the passenger out and paramedics were there shortly to help remove the pilot.
"I flung that door open so we were able to get her out, get her seatbelt off, able to pull her out," witness J.R. Romero said to KTLA 5. "We didn't want to pull out the gentleman because he was in worse condition, I think he was unconscious for sure, she was at least conscious."
LAFD Battalion Chief Shin Black shared an update, stating there was concern with the fuel on the ground and the department was working with Watershed Protection to safely clean up the waste. The park where the plane crashed is normally very busy on weekends. Black also shared that there were large propane storage tanks nearby. There was substantial damage to the plane but there was no post-impact fire and no ground injuries reported.
The LAFD reported that fuel leaked on the ground but there was no post-impact fire. The FAA and NTSB were notified and advised the firefighters to disconnect the battery until the investigators arrived on the scene. The agencies will investigate the crash and the NTSB will issue a preliminary report in about two weeks.