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Small airplane crashes into Detroit backyard; no one was injured

Detroit airplane crash
Detroit plane crash
Posted at 9:27 PM, May 31, 2023
and last updated 2023-05-31 23:55:26-04

DETROIT (WXYZ) — A small, single-engine airplane crashed in a Detroit neighborhood Wednesday night, police said.

The crash happened around 8:30 p.m. in the backyard of a home in between two garages on Duchess Street near Britain Avenue.

No one was hurt, officials said.

"There were two people in the plane. I don't like to use the word 'luck,' but no one got injured, no one got hurt, no chemical spill. It was just one of those fortunate situations," Detroit Fire Department Chief James Harris said at the scene. "We're just thankful no one got hurt, especially no civilians at that time of the day."

Officials: Airplane crashes in Detroit neighborhood

James said the scene is near a school and a park where families and children were outside.

"It could have been a lot worse," he said.

Detroit Police Department Chief James White at the scene said "this is the best of a bad situation."

"When the community is not injured and the family's house isn't on fire, this is a good evening," White said. "(The pilot) came in right over a tree, hit the tree, the branches fell right on top of the garage, he clips the garage as he goes down and the plane is actually wedged between the gate and the garage."

Detroit police chief provides update on plane crashing into backyard

What led up to the crash is currently unknown. Investigators said there was no fuel spillage and the plane did not hit any power lines.

"It is absolutely amazing. I've never seen anything like it," White said, adding that this is the second plane crash that he's seen. "This one — it's amazing that he's not hurt."

White said federal authorities are investigating the crash.