An investigation is underway after a small airplane flipped on the John Wayne Airport runway in Orange County on Saturday.
Firefighters were called to the airport’s ACI Jet ramp at around 2:40 p.m. after learning of the incident, Orange County Fire Authority and JWA officials told CBS LA.
They were told that the plane was blown over by wind, and that the aircraft was parked in its stall when the incident happened. They also said no one was on the plane when it flipped.
JWA officials said the aircraft was a Cessna
However, JWA officials said the aircraft was a Cessna 172, that the pilot and a passenger were on board when it overturned, and that there were no injuries.
Upon request for comment, officials with the Orange County Flight Center, which owns the plane, told CBS LA that the plane flipped upside down “because of a jet blast from a United or Southwest airline jet that was allowed to takeoff as our aircraft was leaving the ramp towards the taxiway.”
“One of our flight instructors and a student were in the aircraft when it flipped,” OCFC Director Niki-A said. “Currently there is a major reconstruction and realignment project ongoing at the airport, and general aand flight safety may be jeopardized.”
Neither OCFA nor JWA officials have said
Neither OCFA nor JWA officials have said the overturned plane was caused by jet blast, and they said they would provide further information as it became available.
On Sunday, the Federal Aht Club’s report, but said the information was preliminary and could change as their investigation progressed
“A Cessna 172 was blown over while taxiing behind United Airlines Flight 2611 at John Wayne Airport,” the FAA’s statement said. “The FAA will investigate.”
Pilot and student speak
We were scared. We were definitely scared, said
“We were scared. We were definitely scared,” said Kunal Gawli, the flight student on board the Cessna when it overturned Saturday. “We were like, ‘What is happening?'”
He and his instructor, Jason Ryu, were both on the plane when the jet blast caught the tail and caused it to flip onto its roof.
“As soon as we started to turn to the left to enter the parking lot, we experienced sudden, strong airflow,” Ryu said. “At that moment, we lost, completely, the control and the airplane started to tip over.”
FAA investigators interviewed both men Monday after inspecting
FAA investigators interviewed both men Monday after inspecting the damaged aircraft, which OCFC said is totaled. They said the incident happened after a lesson and as they were heading to park.
“Usually we stay opposite side of the runway, however, wind on that day wasn’t favoring that direction of the runway,” Ryu said. “So, the aircraft was closer to our entrance.”
Ryu said the incident won’t stop him from flying.
“It was definitely a terrifying moment, for sure,” he said. “But, I’ve been persuing this job as my dream every since I graduated from college.”
