Police are asking everyone to avoid the area
Update 4:54pm: Security camera footage obtained by CBS 6 shows the plane seconds before crashing Monday morning in Colonie
Update 12:20pm: Reports say the Piper PA-31 Navajo took off from Albany Airport around 8:15 and was en route to Montreal when it began having trouble.
Update 10:43am: Colonie Police say the pilot died in the crash and a woman was slightly injured when she was struck by debris while walking her dog. Maxwell Road is expected to remain closed between Albany-Shaker Road and Old Niskayuna Road for at least the rest of the day as the investigation continues.
Update 10:22am: Officials give an update on the crash.
Update 10:14am: Albany International Airport officials are also on the scene of the crash, but have released a statement saying air travel is not impacted at this time.
🚨 ADVISORY - Airport officials are currently on the scene of a privately owned aircraft crash that occurred offsite just southeast of the airport property.
— Albany Airport (@AlbanyAirport) June 17, 2024
Please note that the airport continues to operate and there has been no impact to commercial air service. pic.twitter.com/fK4eKsqJ3V
Update 10:08am: Video taken by NewsChannel 13's Kumi Tucker shows a large plume of smoke still hovering over the area where the plane went down as more rescue vehicles rush to the scene.
— Kumi (@KumiTuckerWNYT) June 17, 2024
There is a large presence of police and EMTs at Maxwell Road and Albany-Shaker Road in Colonie as witnesses report a small plane crashed in the area.
The Times Union says it went down around 8:15am Monday. The newspaper's headquarters are close to where the crash happened. Stacy Blais, an employee of the Times Union says she arrived at the building around the time of the crash:
I was sitting in my car and it was loud. And I could tell it was a small plane becuase those sound so much higher (in pitch), I got out and I saw a small white plane going fast. ... It was flipping, then going up high, then going back down very low. I went back to my car to get my backpack, that's when I heard the explosion. Then all I saw was all the black smoke coming through the trees,
A source says the plane with one person on board had just taken off from Albany Airport. It began having engine problems, but was not able to make it back to the airport.
A photo shared by Sidewinder Photography on Facebook shows a black plume of smoke in the air where the crash happened.
Video shared from News 10 shows a large number of police and rescue workers on the scene.
Colonie Police have issued a quick statement declaring the situation a Major Incident.
No word on the condition of the pilot or if anyone else was hurt when the plane went down. This is a developing story and we will update as information becomes available.
