The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Two safe following stricken aircraft ordeal
Two people have been rescued from a small plane in the US state of Maryland, several hours after it crashed into power lines.
The pair were taken to hospital after the incident in Gaithersburg, Montgomery County, which caused widespread power outages in the surrounding area.
Maryland State Police said pilot Patrick Merkle, 65, of Washington, DC, and passenger Janet Williams, 66, of Louisiana, were rescued from the single-engine plane that was stuck about 100ft above the ground.
Montgomery County Fire Chief Scott Goldstein said the plane was secured to a pylon at 12.16am (5.16am GMT) and the first occupant was removed from the plane at 12.25am (5.25am GMT).
The second occupant was extricated at 12.36am (5.36am GMT).
Both suffered “serious injuries” from the crash, and hypothermia was also an issue, the fire chief said.
They were transported to local trauma centres with non-life-threatening injuries, Mr Goldstein added.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a statement that the single-engine plane, which had departed White Plains, New York, crashed into a power line tower near Montgomery County Airpark in Gaithersburg at around 5.40pm on Sunday.