A small plane crashed in a creek in southwestern New Jersey Saturday morning, prompting a helicopter rescue of the pilot and passenger, authorities said.
Rescue teams were dispatched around 11:20 a.m. to Hawks Bridge Road, near Rainbow End Airport in Mannington Township, an officer with the U.S. Coast Guard told NJ.com.
The crash occurred in a marshy area off Route 540 and left the aircraft half-submerged in Mannington Meadows, which flows into the Salem River, said Salem County Sheriff Chuck Miller.
Helicopters from the New Jersey State Police and the Coast Guard circled overhead during the operation, while two choppers from the Delaware State Police Aviation unit were also called in to assist, local news site First State Update reported.
By 1:30 p.m., the two airplane occupants were rescued by the DSP helicopters. One of the victims did not require medical attention, while the other was taken to Christiana Hospital in New Castle, Del., according to state troopers. Their conditions were not immediately known.
“I’m not certain if it was the pilot, at this particular time, or the passenger, who was able to walk out of the scene,” Miller said.
Authorities have not shared details on the type of aircraft or what may have led to the crash. The investigation is ongoing.
