In a concerning incident at Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) on Wednesday morning, a UNC medical plane crash-landed, resulting in the hospitalization of both a physician and the pilot. Here’s what we know so far:
The crash occurred at 10:10 a.m., prompting a ground stop at RDU and causing disruptions to flight operations. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a temporary halt on departures due to the disabled aircraft on the runway.
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UNC Health confirmed that the aircraft involved was one of its UNC Air Operations Medical planes. The individuals on board—a physician and the pilot—were swiftly transported to the hospital for medical attention.
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The plane, identified by its tail number N228CH as a Socata TBM-850 aircraft, suffered significant damage, with one wing detached and bearing a UNC Chapel Hill logo. The wreckage remains on the airfield pending investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
According to RDU President and CEO Michael Landguth, the accident occurred on the east side of the airport, near Terminal 1. Operations on the west side of the airport have resumed, with runway 5L-23R fully operational.
The incident caused delays and diversions, with 70 flight delays recorded during the ground stop. Commercial flights were redirected to Greensboro, Charlotte, and Richmond to manage the disruption.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story regarding the UNC medical plane crash at RDU. We extend our thoughts and wishes for a speedy recovery to those involved in this unfortunate event.
For more details on the RDU airport plane crash and the latest news on Raleigh-Durham airport incidents, continue following our blog for updates.