Trending Now - Small Plane Crash in Northeast Philly Injures Two, Including Officer

WHO:

CBS News - Two people were injured in the crash, including an off-duty police officer.

6abc Philadelphia - The officer who was piloting the aircraft works in the 3rd District of the Philadelphia Police Department.

CBS News - Alex Souponetsky is the general manager of Fly Legacy Aviation, the flight school that owns the crashed plane.

WHAT:

CBS News - The crash involved a Piper Pilot 100i training aircraft that lost engine power.

6abc Philadelphia - The plane crashed into a tree, resulting in serious injuries to both occupants, who were taken to a local hospital in critical condition.

CBS News - A small fuel spill occurred after the crash, but it did not lead to a fire.

CBS News - The plane took off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport at 3:01 p.m. and crashed shortly before 4 p.m.

WHERE:

CBS News - The crash occurred in Fluehr Park on Grant Avenue in the Torresdale neighborhood of Northeast Philadelphia.

6abc Philadelphia - The plane was attempting to land at Northeast Philadelphia Airport when it crashed.

WHEN:

CBS News - The crash happened on March 31st, 2026, just before 4 p.m.

6abc Philadelphia - The plane took off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport at 3:00 p.m. on March 31st, 2026.

WHY:

CBS News - The aircraft lost engine power while flying over the Delaware River, prompting an emergency landing attempt.

HOW:

CBS News - The instructor and student pilot attempted an emergency landing but struck a tree during the descent.

6abc Philadelphia - Witnesses reported that the plane appeared to be sputtering and stalling before attempting to land.

(UPDATED April 2, 2026 03:53 UTC)

A Piper Pilot 100i training aircraft crashed in Fluehr Park on Grant Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia on Tuesday, just before 4 p.m., after losing engine power while flying over the Delaware River. The crash resulted in serious injuries to both occupants, including an off-duty police officer who was piloting the plane, and they were taken to a local hospital in critical condition. The aircraft, which took off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport at 3:01 p.m., attempted an emergency landing but struck a tree during the descent, leading to a small fuel spill that fortunately did not ignite.