2 injured after plane crashes in Northeast Philadelphia park

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Two people were injured after a plane crashed Wednesday afternoon at a park in the Torresdale section of Northeast Philadelphia, according to emergency response officials.

The Piper PA-28, a small four-seat aircraft, crashed south of Northeast Philadelphia Airport around 3:30 p.m. near Fluehr Park at Grant and Torresdale avenues, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The Philadelphia Fire Department said one person was extricated. They and another person onboard sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital in serious condition.

Fly Legacy Aviation, a flight school based in the city, told 6abc the plane experienced a loss of power over the Delaware River, leading to the instructor and student pilot on board having to make an emergency landing.

Video from 6abc showed the aircraft smashed into a tree, the nose of the plane demolished, with pieces of the plane scattered on the ground.

Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Jeffrey Thompson said the pilot was attempting to land at Northeast Philadelphia Airport when they issued a distress call. Thompson said the collision caused a small fuel spill but no fire.

According to the FAA’s aircraft registry, the fixed-wing single-engine plane was built in 2021 and is registered to an owner based in New York.

Editor’s Note: 6abc contributed to this report.