2 saved in Watertown plane crash
WATERTOWN
A light plane landing at the Watertown Municipal Airport crashed Saturday, setting off an explosion as it came down at the end of a hangar while other aviation enthusiasts ducked for cover.
Witnesses said the plane was making its approach and as it touched down it went out of control, finally soaring up and then crashing back down.
Authorities said the pilot and his wife were taken to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries and then flown to University Hospital in Madison.
Their names weren’t released.
An airport employee, Curtis Loontjer, pulled the couple from the burning wreckage.
Loontjer said the plane exploded as he was running toward it. He said he could see two people on the grass near the plane, and he began carrying the woman away. When she called for her husband, he went back and dragged him to safety.
Then there were several explosions that showered debris, he said.
Jul 29, 2008 at 10:13 a.m.
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Curtis is a good friend of mine and is a very humble person. I know he doesn't like all this attention but he certainly deserves it. It is too bad that only the local NBC stations (madison and milwaukee) were the ones to report on it.
Jul 27, 2008 at 3:56 p.m.
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The heroism of an act like this is nothing less than amazing. With all the bad news and bad people we experience daily this is an awesome story about an awesome person. My hat is off to you, Curtis - thanks for being there.
Jul 27, 2008 at 3:14 p.m.
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Darn right, lakennedy, sounds like this guy risked everything to save this couple. He deserves some type of commendation.
Jul 27, 2008 at 12:14 p.m.
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Forget about Ferris Bueller. Curtis Loontjer, you're my hero.
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