Londonderry, New Hampshire – The pilot of a small twin-engine plane that crashed on Friday morning in Londonderry, New Hampshire, was able to call 911 after the incident, according to officials. The aircraft, operated by Wiggins Airways, a private package delivery service, was en route to Presque Isle, Maine, when it crashed just before 7:30 a.m. off Colonial Drive.

The pilot, who was the sole occupant of the plane, was rescued by first responders and taken to a nearby hospital. He was later transferred to a hospital in Massachusetts in critical condition. The crash site was located approximately 100 feet from a residential home, prompting fire officials to emphasize that it was very nearly a tragic incident.

Fortunately, no homes were damaged in the crash, although some power lines were affected as the plane went down. The smell of gas permeated the area, and efforts were made to minimize any potential environmental impact from the plane’s full load of fuel.

Local residents expressed concern about the environmental impact and the strong smell of gas in the area. The crash site shut down Colonial Drive, causing disruption to transportation and school bus routes. The former director of aviation at Massport commended the pilot for avoiding hitting any homes and expressed hope for his recovery and future involvement in the investigation.

Although the crash was deemed a rare occurrence, first responders emphasized that they were prepared for such events despite their infrequency. The FAA and NTSB will conduct investigations to ensure that there are no concerning patterns or issues with the aircraft or its operations.