Emergency Parachute Deploys As Small Plane Crashes In Burlington
BURLINGTON (CBS) - Two people who were flying in a plane that crashed in Burlington on Wednesday appear to have escaped injury.
According to officials, the single engine Cirrus went down in an area off of Middlesex Turnpike around 1:30 p.m.
Both people on the plane were taken to the Lahey Clinic as a precaution.
The airplane was equipped with an emergency parachute, which the pilot was able to successfully deploy.
Bill King, Vice President of Cirrus Aircraft says they are the only company that makes a certified aircraft that has an air frame parachute system built into it. The emergency parachute is standard on all of their planes. According to their website, Cirrus claims the chutes have saved close to 100 lives.
King notes though that the parachute should only be used in a life or death emergency.
"There's a certain amount of force to it. It's certainly not a comfortable alternative landing device. This is designed to be a save your life, not save your aircraft," King said.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Ben Parker Talks With Bill King
The aircraft that crashed in Burlington was headed to Hanscom Field.
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident.
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