Search Underway for Potential Plane Crash in Fayette County
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Authorities are currently investigating a possible plane crash that may have occurred in the Monongahela River near Masontown, Fayette County. The search was initiated on Friday afternoon after a 911 caller reported seeing a small aircraft descend around 12:45 p.m. Though the caller did not witness the crash, they noted that the plane did not resurface.
Search crews, including the Adah Volunteer Fire Department, utilized sonar technology to detect a "potential object" in the river. Fire Chief LC Otto indicated that while sonar can identify foreign objects in the water, it cannot specify their nature. He emphasized that no missing persons or aircraft have been reported, and no distress signal or mayday call was made, as smaller planes are often not required to file flight plans.
The search was hampered by dangerously cold temperatures, with the river’s water temperature hovering around 30 degrees. Despite efforts, no debris was located on the river’s surface, prompting officials to suspend the search for the day. They plan to resume searching on Saturday, bringing in divers to assist in identifying the detected object. Crews from Fayette and Greene counties, along with aerial support from a helicopter and a private plane, combed the nearby land for additional clues.
As of now, officials have not confirmed the occurrence of a plane crash and are proceeding with caution. The situation remains ongoing, and updates are expected as search efforts continue throughout the weekend.
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