Five People Rescued After Making Emergency Landing In Wyoming Desert
Jan 28, 2019, 9:28 PM
The driver of a fatal hit-and-run crash in Salt Lake City last fall is facing criminal charges. (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. – Search and rescue crews have been called out in southwest Wyoming after a small plane carrying five people made an emergency landing in the desert.
Corporal Jason Mower with the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office said all five people appeared to be unharmed.
Emergency dispatchers got a call around 6:30 p.m. Monday from the occupants of the plane, explaining their situation.
The plane landed safely in a remote area within miles of the Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport. The geography of the area was described as a high plains desert.
It wasn’t clear exactly what went wrong with the aircraft.
A helicopter was used to access the location and bring the passengers back to the airport.
Mower said officials initially knew the location of the plane, but there were no roads for crews to reach the plane.
With snowdrifts reaching four to five feet high in the area, crews were challenged to figure out a way to get to the plane.
It was also dark outside, further complicating the rescue.
Search and rescue crews worked with sheriff’s deputies and airport personnel. Mower said their immediate efforts were to determine the quickest way to get to the landing site.
Emergency crews remained in contact with the occupants of the plane.
