A small plane crashed near the peak of Mount Equinox in Vermont on Wednesday morning, injuring three people. Responders faced extreme conditions reaching the crash site, located approximately 3,200 feet up the mountain.
Mount Equinox Crash and Rescue
The incident was reported around 8:30 a.m., though the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has indicated that the plane may have crashed earlier, around 3:50 a.m. The exact timeline remains under investigation.
According to the Manchester Fire Department, first responders had to hike through icy and snowy terrain to get to the crash site. Helicopters, snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles were used in the rescue.
New York State Police sent a helicopter to airlift the victims. One was flown to Albany Medical Center and the other two were taken to local hospitals by ambulance. All three sustained non-life threatening injuries.
Investigation
The cause of the crash remains unclear. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the incident. Officials will visit the crash site on Friday to examine the wreckage and gather evidence.
They will look into mechanical, weather and pilot factors. Snow and ice may have played a role, but officials haven’t determined what exactly happened.
Responders faced extreme conditions to get to the crash site. Snowmobiles, ATVs and trucks only made it part way up the mountain, before responders had to switch to all-terrain vehicle snowshoes to continue.
Visibility was zero due to cloud cover, making the rescue even tougher. Despite the difficult conditions, teams successfully rescued all three victims.
Officials believe the soft snow and open space at the summit of Mount Equinox helped cushion the impact and prevent more serious injuries.
Aviation Safety
This crash comes just one week after a midair collision in Arizona between two small planes. These recent crashes highlight the ongoing challenges of aviation safety, particularly in remote areas where rescues are more difficult.
As the investigation continues we hope to learn more about what happened and how we can prevent future accidents.
Our thoughts are with those affected and we hope those injured make a full recovery.
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