The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

April 13, 2009

BREAKING NEWS (Updated): Reported plane crash turns out to be false alarm

A report of a possible airplane crash Monday morning turned out to be a false alarm, officials said.

About 9:10 a.m., Raleigh County Emergency Operating Center was notified of a “possible airplane crash” behind Godfather’s Tobacco and Liquor, located across U.S. 19 from Crossroads Mall near Bradley.

Jan-Care Ambulance, Bradley-Prosperity Volunteer Fire Department and area police officers sped to the site, which is accessible via a rutted, dirt road.

By 9:33 a.m., officials had determined that there was no plane crash.

Tom Cochran, manager of the Beckley-Raleigh County Memorial Airport said the reports may have been spurred after residents saw a C-130 military plane doing a tactical maneuver at the airport, which is located near Beaver.

Cochran said the plane came to pick up military troops that are headed for Iraq.

The airplane flew into the airport in a pattern that is unfamiliar to many local residents, he added.

“(The pilot) didn’t do anything out of the ordinary,” said Cochran. “It’s a big plane flying lower ... it may appear ... that he’s going in the ground, but he was totally under control.”

Cochran reported similar incidents of false reports have occurred in the past.

“Every time this airplane comes to Beckley, and he flies a little lower than normal, we get all kinds of these (reports.)”

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