On Monday morning, a small plane crashed at Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), resulting in injuries to a UNC Health physician and pilot. The crash occurred near gate 15 on a secondary runway at RDU around 10:15 a.m., according to Broadcastify radio traffic.
Two people were on board the plane, with one entrapped and extrication underway. UNC Health released a statement confirming that the crashed plane was one of its UNC Air Operations medical planes carrying a physician and a pilot. Both individuals were hospitalized following the crash. The plane involved in the incident was a single-engine Socata TBM-700 owned by Medical Air Inc., which had taken off from Wilmington.
Emergency responders were at the scene, with the airfield closed for flight operations. RDU Airport Authority stated that the airfield closure would impact inbound and outbound flights until further notice. Flights were being held at their origin until 11:30 a.m., causing 55 delays at RDU.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will conduct an investigation into the crash, which has caused disruptions to travelers at RDU airport. WRAL News is actively seeking information regarding the cause of the incident, and we will update you as soon as more details become available.
The incident has brought attention to safety concerns surrounding small aircraft operations, particularly when it comes to weather conditions and communication between pilots and air traffic control officials.
As of now, there are no reports of anyone else being injured or killed in the crash. However, this is still an ongoing investigation, so more information may be released as time goes on.
It is important for travelers to keep an eye on updates from RDU airport authorities regarding flight schedules and any other changes that may occur due to this incident.
We hope that those involved in this tragic accident recover quickly and safely from their injuries.
