A single-engine plane crashed in Galloway Township, New Jersey, near Atlantic City International Airport on Wednesday afternoon (July 31). The pilot, who was the only person on board, managed to parachute to safety and was unharmed, according to local police.
The plane, a Cirrus SR-22, went down around 3:40 p.m. in a wooded area near the intersection of Liebig Street and Genoa Avenue. The pilot deployed the plane's parachute system, which slowed the descent, allowing him to land safely. FAA records show the plane is registered to Floralyn Aviation of West Palm Beach, Florida.
The pilot reportedly radioed air traffic control shortly after takeoff from Atlantic City International Airport, indicating there was a problem. He chose not to attempt a landing on the nearby Garden State Parkway due to heavy traffic and instead steered the plane into the trees. A social media report stated that the pilot deployed the plane's parachute system at 400 feet above the tree line.
The Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the crash. In the meantime, Galloway Township Police have asked residents to avoid the area.