Pilot In Old Bridge Plane Crash Was Only 17, Police Confirm

OLD BRIDGE, NJ — The pilot who survived Sunday afternoon's plane crash in Old Bridge, miraculously escaping his plane before it burst into flames, was only 17 years old, according to Old Bridge Police Chief Joe Mandola.

The crash happened just before 4:45 p.m. Sunday as the young man was attempting to land at Old Bridge Airport, a private airport.

It is unknown if this was his first solo flight, but the 17-year-old boy was a student pilot flying the plane alone. He was able to land the Cessna Skyhawk II but the plane ran off the runway.

After stopping, the pilot was able to get out of the cockpit before the plane burst into flames.

He was able to escape with only minor cuts and bruises, said acting Old Bridge Police Chief Joe Mandola. Other media reported there was a fatality and that the pilot died, but that is incorrect, said Chief Mandola.

He was taken to Robert Wood Johnson Hospital to be checked out. There were no other occupants of the plane.

The young man is not local to the Old Bridge area.

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