Police Officers Rescue Pilot Just Before Aircraft Destroyed by Train

Body-cam footage shows officers rescue pilot from Skyhawk with mere seconds to spare.

Monday, January 10, 2022 at 04:57 PM ET

Verified

A pilot is pulled away seconds before his aircraft is destroyed by an oncoming train. [Screengrab from police body-cam footage]

Key Takeaways:

California police officers heroically rescued a pilot from a Cessna 172 that had crashed on railroad tracks, pulling him to safety just moments before an oncoming train collided with and destroyed the aircraft.
The incident occurred near Whiteman Field (KWHP) in Los Angeles after the 1967 Cessna 172H allegedly lost power shortly after takeoff, leading to the pilot's hospitalization and a joint NTSB and FAA investigation.
This event adds to the controversial history of Whiteman Field, an airport that has faced calls for closure from surrounding communities due to a history of accidents and safety concerns.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Two California police officers are being called heroes for rescuing the pilot of a Cessna 172 that came down on railroad tracks just moments before a train struck the aircraft. The accident happened Sunday at about 2:15 p.m. near Whiteman Field (KWHP) east of Los Angeles.

Police body-cam footage shows the mangled airplane sitting on a railway crossing. The pilot and sole occupant of the aircraft, his head covered in blood, is dragged from the aircraft while one of the officers shouts “Go! Go! Go! Go!” and the train’s horn sounds in the distance. About three seconds later, the double-decker commuter train collides with what is left of the aircraft. Parts of the shattered Cessna are scattered by the impact.