GEORGETOWN TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Two people are hurt following a small plane crash Tuesday afternoon at Riverview Airport in Georgetown Township.
According to the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office, the crash happened during takeoff. Bystanders reported seeing the plane veering on the runway, then crash into a water-filled gravel pit.
Watch Matt Witkos's report from the scene
There were two people on board: the 84-year-old pilot and his 83-year-old passenger.
Both occupants were helped out of the Cesna 177 airplane by bystanders, then transported to the hospital for treatment. The Sheriff's Office said both are in serious condition.
Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office is praising the actions of two people who quickly jumped into action.
“I give these individuals a lot of credit. I mean, they saw a pretty serious situation happen. It sounds like they didn't think twice about what they had to do. They saw two people in distress that were involved in a plane crash, and chose to jump in the water and swim after him and bring him to shore,” Srgt Michael Tamminga said.
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the circumstances surrounding this crash.
"We're still doing some of those interviews and conducting that investigation. It was in the process of taking off from the runway, and that's all the information we have at this point," Tamminga said.
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