A pilot preparing for takeoff at Kissimmee Gateway Airport became an unexpected hero on Saturday afternoon, guiding first responders to the site of a plane crash in a heavily wooded area. The incident occurred when a small aircraft, a Cessna 150, went down about a mile and a half southeast of the airport’s runway.
Isaiah Akloo, the pilot who assisted, was readying his plane for departure when he received an urgent call from air traffic control to abort takeoff. The plane that had just taken off in front of him had crashed. Akloo, along with his second-in-command, circled above the crash site for approximately 20 minutes, relaying critical information to air traffic control to aid the emergency crews in locating the downed aircraft.
Military Training in Action
Akloo, who serves in the United States Air Force Reserve, utilized his military training during the incident. He used his camera to zoom in on the crash site, searching for signs of life. “All I just wanted to see was a movement so I can let the ATC know that, hey, they’re alive and everything is going well,” Akloo explained. His commitment to the Air Force’s ethos of never leaving an airman behind guided his decision to stay until help arrived.
The crash, reported at 2:59 p.m., was attributed to fuel exhaustion, as noted by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). This term refers to the aircraft running out of fuel, a critical factor in the crash. The Cessna was carrying two occupants, both of whom were eventually rescued and taken to the hospital in critical condition.
Coordinated Rescue Efforts
Stephen Gonnella, a battalion chief with the Kissimmee Fire Department, acknowledged the difficulty in locating the aircraft due to the dense woods. However, with the assistance of Akloo and a helicopter from the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, the fire department successfully located the Cessna and rescued its occupants.
Akloo expressed relief upon learning that the occupants survived. “It was such a joy that came over me when I heard that they’re alive. I felt that peace that, ‘Hey, you know what? They’re alive,'” he said, grateful for the timely response of the first responders and the effective communication that facilitated the rescue.
The NTSB and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the incident to determine the exact cause of the crash. They have requested that anyone with video or information about the crash contact them at [email protected].
Original reporting: WESH Orlando — read the source article.
