A small plane crashed shortly after takeoff in the Rheingau-Taunus district. The pilot was killed. The accident site in Aarbergen was cordoned off for the investigation, and explosives experts were also on site.
Witnesses notified the fire department and police after they observed the crash in a forest near Aarbergen (Rheingau-Taunus) at around 2:20 p.m. on Saturday. When the police arrived, some first responders had rescued the pilot from the wreckage and tried to resuscitate him. However, the emergency doctor could only determine the death of the 36-year-old man from Hesse.
There were no other occupants in the single-engine aircraft. According to the fire department, the crash occurred shortly after takeoff from the glider airfield in the Michelbach district. Witnesses reported hearing a loud bang. A fire department spokesman told hr that the machine then disappeared into the forest. A helicopter was used to search for the crash site.
Explosives experts at the scene of the accident
The investigation into the cause of the accident was carried out by the Federal Aviation Accident Investigation Board. In the late afternoon, experts from the State Criminal Police Office were on site to defuse an explosive device.
According to the district fire chief, this was part of a rescue system that was supposed to activate an emergency parachute. But the system didn’t trigger. That’s why the explosive device had to be defused by hand.
Emergency services and witnesses were looked after
The fire brigade also ensured fire protection as fuel had also leaked. A total of around 60 firefighters were on duty. Emergency services and witnesses were looked after by emergency pastors.
District Administrator Sandro Zehner (CDU) expressed his thanks to the emergency services and first responders. “This is a terrible misfortune and shocks me very much. My thoughts are with his family and friends in these difficult hours.”