Details are still sparse about the light aircraft that landed on Bayly Street in Ajax on Monday evening, though both town officials and police say the emergency landing was forced by engine failure.
“Engine failure. Damage to aircraft but pilot is ok,” wrote Ajax Mayor Shaun Collier on a Facebook group on Monday night.
Separately, Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) said in an update: “A small aircraft made an emergency landing after the engine failed and the pilot was able to glide the aircraft onto the roadway.”
However, yesterday, no further details were released by either. It is not yet known if the plane has been handed over to relevant aviation authorities for examination.
“A few light poles have been damaged, as well as the plane. No injuries have been reported. The area remains closed,” said police Monday night.
Earlier, it said officers were are on scene at Bayly Street East and Audley Road South in Ajax for a small plane that has crashed. There are no reported injuries at this time. Please avoid the area.
Eyewitness Account
An eyewitness, John Gilker recalled: “So, Debbie and I were coming home from Whitby along Bayly Street when I noticed navigation lights in the sky above us. I commented that they looked way too far apart to be the police helicopter, and then we realized it was a small plane about 50 feet in the air.
“We turned to follow and it crashed into the light standard at Bayly and Audley Road. The plane did a 180 and stopped immediately east of the intersection.
“We talked to the pilot who had trouble getting out of the plane due to body damage, and he seemed fine, but the engine had quit on him. The lady who was at the light when he clipped the pole was probably more excited than the pilot. Just another boring night in Ajax.”
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