Los Angeles police officers rescued an injured pilot with just seconds to spare before an oncoming train collided with his downed plane.
The amazing rescue on Sunday was captured on video that was shared by police after the Cessna 172 had crashed on the railroad tracks just outside of an airfield in suburban Los Angeles, KCRA reported.
“The Cessna 172 crashed around 2:10 p.m. shortly after takeoff from Whiteman Airport in the San Fernando Valley community of Pacoima, according to the Federal Aviation Administration,” the outlet reported.
“Photos from the scene showed the single-engine plane came to a stop with its left wing and nose touching the pavement along the railroad track,” KCRA added.
**WARNING: Sensitive content**
Foothill Division Officers displayed heroism and quick action by saving the life of a pilot who made an emergency landing on the railroad tracks at San Fernando Rd. and Osborne St., just before an oncoming train collided with the aircraft. pic.twitter.com/DDxtGGIIMo
— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) January 10, 2022
The unidentified and bloodied pilot was pried out of the wreckage of the small plane and clearly appeared injured in the video as officers pulled him away from the tracks.
“Go, go, go, go, go,” an officer could be heard shouting just seconds before an oncoming Metrolink train rammed through the aircraft.
“Foothill Division Officers displayed heroism and quick action by saving the life of a pilot who made an emergency landing on the railroad tracks at San Fernando Rd. and Osborne St., just before an oncoming train collided with the aircraft,” the Los Angeles Police Department tweeted Sunday night.
Social media users were amazed by the video and even shared another piece of footage captured by a bystander who nearly got hit with debris as the train barrelled through.
OMG—Train collides with a crashed plane just 2 seconds after @LAPDFoothill police pull the pilot from the wreckage earlier today. The bystander who recorded this was nearly hit by large flying debris. LAPD officer’s body cam further below👇—amazing heroism 🙏 https://t.co/HFbd47q9a0 pic.twitter.com/pJssGZsrPM
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) January 10, 2022
Talk about a very bad day with a good ending.
Surviving a plane crash and a train crash.
— Matt Karolian (@mkarolian) January 10, 2022
If you saw this in the Movie Theatre, you would swear it was CGI. Incredible bravery.
— C.E. Indeed (@CeIndeed) January 10, 2022
This is horrific and shocking to watch.. well done to LAPD. #brave
— Exhausted (@Leney_3) January 10, 2022
Geez, luckiest day of that man’s life. Hell of a video.
— Watchin’ Da Wheels (@🏡) (@WatchinDaWheels) January 10, 2022
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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