A spectacular rescue operation took place yesterday in the US state of California: A pilot crashed his small plane over a level crossing. The man was rescued from the wreck at the last second before a train raced into the crashed plane.
Videos of the incident spread on social networks. “The plane had a false start and landed on the train tracks at a busy intersection,” the Archyde.com news agency quoted Luis Jimenez, a 21-year-old who filmed the video.
“Only seconds before the impact, police officers rescued the pilot, and a piece of debris almost hit me,” said the eyewitness. A video from police in Los Angeles shows officers pulling the bleeding pilot out of the plane wreck.
The man was hospitalized with cuts and bruises, but is in stable condition, local media report. Also none of the train occupants was injured, it was said.
The police thanked the officers: They had “demonstrated heroism and quick reaction” and thus saved the life of the pilot.